Student-athletes’ perception of basic psychological need support in sports and school: cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives using a cluster-analytical approach

Abstract

Previous studies have examined the basic psychological needs (BPNs) among student-athletes in dual careers (DCs), however, motivational profiles regarding the BPNs have not yet been investigated extensively. The present study aimed to investigate DC profiles based on the perceived BPN support. Cross-sectional analyses examined the relation between these profiles and the academic and athletic personal characteristics as well as performances. Longitudinal analyses explored the profiles’ developments in terms of these characteristics and performances. A sample of 236 student-athletes (47.5% female) at three German Elite Sport Schools participated in the study. Cluster analyses resulted in five clustering profiles: positive thinkers, easy-goers, socials, learners, and sporties. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) showed that these profiles differed in terms of academic and athletic personal characteristics but not performances. Repeated-measurement ANOVA resulted in indifferent developments of the personal characteristics and performances among the five profiles except for the grade in Physical Education.

Keywords

• Self-determination theory
• basic psychological needs
• cluster analysis
• dual career
• elite sport
• Thomas Quarmby, Leeds Beckett University–Headingley Campus, UK