Kampsportsutövaren och självbestämmandeteorin: en studie om svenska tonåringars motivation till att träna taekwondo

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study is to investigate which motivational factors cause teenagers to remain in competitive taekwondo. Some teenagers, especially during high school seem to experience serious difficulties maintaining motivation towards sport. The reason for this may be caused by inhibitory factors such as such as burnout, degenerated motivation, counteracting hobbies associated with adolescence and lack of support from peers, coaches and parents as well as early specialization. Using a qualitative thematic analysis and semi-structured interviews, this study analyzed the motivation factors and its relation to the coach within three Swedish taekwondo organizations located in southern and northern part of the country within the framework of Self-determination theory. The current findings indicate motives such as interest/enjoyment, individual development, positive feedback, challenge/competition and a sense of competence as well as autonomy support as highest motivators for sports participation within taekwondo. In contrast, lack of psychological needs such as sense of competence and autonomy were determining reasons for dropout. In parallel, motives such as encouragement, “break from reality”, group cohesion, security and a sense of relatedness also seem to play a critical role, although not essential for the actual participation. Nonetheless, according to the participants, highly important in order to thrive. In that regard, the coach has great influence upon the well-being and satisfaction of the psychological needs associated with Self-determination theory. Which is based upon the environment and specific coach behavior which directly or indirectly facilitates the participants’ sense of autonomy, competence and relatedness. According to the participants, an environment and coach behavior such as democracy, discipline, high social interaction, equity, and person-oriented verbal reinforcement, encouragement, competence, and empathy as well as strong coach-athlete relationship facilitates and regulates how they perceive the psychological needs autonomy, competence and relatedness.