Trajectories of performance and motivation for competitive swimmers

Abstract

This study investigated the longitudinal trajectories of swimmers' competitive performance results, as well as the motivational predictors of the emerging trajectories. XXX swimmers were followed for seven swimming seasons (2010 – 2016). In 2010, athletes provided background characteristics (age, gender, years of experience) and completed self-determination theory-based measures of sport and general motivation. Their top score from each season (2011 – 2016) were then used to track their performance trajectories. The data were analyzed using latent growth mixture modeling to determine the best-fitting model of performance trajectories and the motivational and background characteristics were explored as predictors using multinomial logistic regression. The analyses revealed five similar latent classes: Dropout, Delayed Dropout, Stable, Improvement, and Greatest Improvement. Analyses indicated that the background characteristics did not differ between trajectories; however, members of the dropout and delayed dropout groups reported higher controlled motivation and amotivation for sport at baseline, where the dropout group displayed higher levels than the delayed dropout group. Autonomous motivation towards sport was not associated with any trajectories; however, general autonomous motivation was positively associated with the improvement and large improvement groups, where athletes in both trajectories reported more autonomous general motivation than the other trajectories. The results found support for trajectories for athletes' where some dropped out immediately, or within a couple of years. The remaining athletes kept swimming, but some demonstrated consistent performances, and others improved somewhat or a lot. These results support that motivation not only predicts athletes' persistence within their sport, but also their potential improvement.