MOTIVATION IN HIGH-LEVEL ROLLER DERBY : ATHLETES’ EXPERIENCED PEER MOTIVATIONAL CLIMATE AND BASIC PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS

Sammanfattning: The motivation behind the revival and development of roller derby may provide valuable insight to the structure of established sports regarding athlete engagement, drop-out, and well-being. To investigate the relationship of the cross-theoretical concepts, self-reported satisfaction and thwarting of basic psychological needs, and peer motivational climate of 255 high-level flat track roller derby athletes was examined in a cross-sectional design. Hierarchal regression analysis showed low effects of basic needs satisfaction on performance. Basic psychological need satisfaction and thwarting predicted 63% of the experienced task-involved motivational climate variance and 25% of ego-involved motivational climate. Relatedness proved strongest in predicting both types of peer motivational climates. In conclusion, the employed study method, limitations of the study, and recommendations for future research are discussed.