The Relationship between Coping Strategies and Metamotivation Dominance in Elite Athletes: A Reversal Theory Approach

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between coping strategies and metamotivation dominance in academic elite athletes based on reversal theory. 124 athletes who were the members of university sport teams participated in this study by convenience sampling method. In this study, Telic Dominance Scale was used to measure and determine metamotivation dominance and the Persian version of coping strategies questionnaire was utilized to assess athletes’ coping strategies. The results of K-S test showed that the data distribution was not normal; so data were analyzed by Spearman correlation coefficient and U Mann-Whitney test. The results of correlation test showed a negative and significant relationship between activity orientation coping strategies and Telic dominance and a positive and significant relationship between emotion orientation strategies and Telic dominance. Also, the results of U Mann-Whitney test showed that those with Telic used more emotion orientation strategies while those with Paratelic used more activity orientation strategies. Consequently, it is recommended that coaches should identify athletes’ metamotivation dominance to use appropriate coping strategies.

Keywords

• coping strategies
• paratelic athletes
• reversal theory
• telic athletes