In the context of a sports match, the goal to win is most important, right? Suggestive evidence for a hierarchical achievement goal system

When evaluating one's own or others' performances, there is a strong tendency to rely on social comparison information. Remarkably, however, the extant achievement goal research suggests that the prevalence of other-based goals is very low, also in sport contexts. In the present research, we argue and demonstrate that in the context of a sports match: (1) most athletes' overarching achievement goal is an other-based approach goal (i.e., the goal to win), and (2) athletes with an overarching other-based approach goal also rely on self-based criteria (referring to one's personal performance trajectory) and task-based criteria (referring to the absolute demands of the task). Survey data was collected among 647 competitive korfball players (69.4% women), ranging in age from 16 to 56 years. As expected, for most athletes (51.6%), to win matches was their overarching achievement goal, and pursuing self-based and task-based approach goals added to their competence satisfaction. In such a hierarchical achievement goal system, subordinate goals likely help athletes to increase their awareness of what actions and means facilitate their focal objective: Coming out victorious

A quantitative study of the impact of functional classification on competitive anxiety and performance among wheelchair basketball athletes

In adaptive sports (also known as Para sports, disability sports, or Paralympic sports), athletes are assigned to classes that indicate their functional potential, regardless of talent, training, or experience. The aim of the present study among wheelchair basketball athletes (n = 141) was to explore the role of functional classification as a potential stressor. Specifically, we looked into the anecdotal relationship between classification and athletes’ concern about “performing in accordance with one’s class.” Based on a serial mediation research model, we examined the links between functional classification and three outcome variables (i.e., cognitive worry, somatic arousal, and game performance) through the mediator variables of perceived competitive demands and sport-specific self-efficacy. Unexpectedly, we did not find any evidence of a classification effect on either the mediator variables or competitive anxiety. However, we did find positive correlations between functional classification and athletes’ contribution to their team’s score, which align with research supporting the proportionality and the validity of the functional classification system. Moreover, regardless of classification, mediation analyses revealed an indirect link between perceived competitive demands and cognitive worry through sport-specific self-efficacy. These findings suggest that, regardless of classification, athletes’ self-efficacy may be increased by managing their appraisals of competitive demands and that their cognitive worries may be reduced by self-efficacy interventions

Mental aspects of sport and performance

Hoe kan talent en leerpotentieel worden herkend, benut en versterkt? Welke psychologische factoren en omstandigheden zijn van invloed op het optimaal kunnen presteren? Hoe kunnen mentale vaardigheden worden gestimuleerd en ontwikkeld? Met die vragen gaat Nico van Yperen zich bezighouden als hoogleraar Sport & Performance Psychologie aan de Rijksuniversiteit van Groningen. Hij is de eerste hoogleraar op dit gebied in Nederland

Achievement goals and self-regulation in the sport context

Sport offers a compelling context in which social psychological principles make an important contribution to understanding human emotion, judgment, and behavior. Obviously, the sport context is different from other performance contexts such as work, school, and art. However, there are also commonalities. One of the purposes of the present chapter is to mine those connections, similarities, and convergences to help to understand how and why performers think, feel, and act as they do in different performance contexts.Sport offers a compelling context in which social psychological principles make an important contribution to understanding human emotion, judgment, and behavior. Obviously, the sport context is different from other performance contexts such as work, school, and art. However, there are also commonalities. One of the purposes of the present chapter is to mine those connections, similarities, and convergences to help to understand how and why performers think, feel, and act as they do in different performance contexts

The link between empowering leadership and employees' perceptions of the effectiveness of blended working

Linked to technological and societal developments, including the COVID-19 pandemic, employees are increasingly being given the opportunity to blend onsite and remote working including flexibility as to when and where they work. Despite the proliferation of such blended working, there is little empirical research on how leaders in organizations can contribute to facilitating its effectiveness. In the present study, we hypothesized that an empowering leadership style would be positively associated with employees' perceptions of the effectiveness of blended working. Additionally, grounded in Self-Determination Theory, we hypothesized that the satisfaction of employees' work-related psychological needs for autonomy and for competence would mediate this relation. Results of a field study (N = 405 employees) using a two-wave panel design supported a cross-lagged effect of empowering leadership on employees' perceptions of the effectiveness of blended working. However, no evidence was found for the hypothesized mediated relations. Our findings could be of value to organizations as they indicate a specific leadership style that is likely to facilitate the effectiveness of blended working