Abstract:

The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of self-esteem, global physical selfconcept, sport competence and life satisfaction in the prediction of achievement goal orientations in female and male athletes. 820 athletes (n male= 497; Xage=21.77 +- 3.92 ve n female=323; Xage=20.74 +- 3.78) participated in this study. Physical Self-Description Questionnaire, The Satisfaction with Life Scale and 2x2 Achievement Goals Questıonnaire for Sport were used as the measure of self-esteem, global physical self-concept, sport competence, life satisfaction and goal orientation levels, respectively. Data are reported as means and standard deviations and independent samples t tests were calculated to compare the scores for the two gender. Then, multiple regression analyses with stepwise were applied separately to data of male and female athletes. Gender differences were observed in sport competence (p<0.01) and life satisfaction (p<0.001) of participants. Global physical self-concept was positive related to mastery-approach goal orientation in female athletes (p<0.01). Among the male, scores on mastery-approach goal orientation were positive associated with self-esteem and sport competence (p<0.01) and negative associated with life satisfaction (p<0.05). Mastery-avoidance goal orientation was positive related to life satisfaction in female athletes (p<0.01). In contrast, mastery-avoidance goal orientation was nagative associated with selfesteem and positive associated with global physical self-concept in male athletes (p<0.01). Scores on sport competence was positive associated with performance- approach goal orientation for both gender (p<0.01). Performance- avoidance goal orientation was negative associated with self-esteem and positive associated with sport competence in both female and male athletes (p<0.05). In addition, in male athletes, global physical self-concept was positive related to performanceavoidance goals (p<0.05). In summary, it is concluded that physical self-perceptions and life satisfaction are efficient to predict achievement goal orientations of athletes.

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