A conditional process analysis of general self-esteem in student-athletes in lower secondary sport schools

TL;DR

This study explores how different achievement goals affect self-esteem in young student-athletes and how their performance and identity as athletes play a role.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into how achievement goals and perceived performance influence self-esteem in student-athletes.

Findings

Achievement goal orientations are directly and indirectly linked to self-esteem through perceived performance.

Athletes who focus on doing their best report higher self-esteem than those who focus on being the best.

Athletic identity does not strengthen the relationship between goal orientations and self-esteem.

Abstract

Specialised sport schools at the lower secondary level aim to support the holistic development of young athletes. Consequently, understanding how to influence student-athletes’ self-perceptions both inside and outside of the sporting context is of interest. Grounded in Achievement goal theory, this study examined whether achievement goal orientations were related to self-esteem, both directly and indirectly through perceived sport performance. Additionally, we investigated whether athletic identity moderated the indirect relationship between achievement goal orientations and self-esteem.

The sample comprised 579 student-athletes aged 12 to 16 years (Mage = 13.93; SD = 0.85), recruited from seven Norwegian lower secondary sport schools. All participants responded to items concerning their general self-esteem, goal orientations, perceived performance and athletic identity.

Regression analyses revealed that athletes’ achievement goal orientations were directly and indirectly (via perceived performance) related to their self-esteem. However, athletic identity did not moderate the indirect relationship.

Overall, the findings suggest that student-athletes who view success as doing their very best tend to be more satisfied with their own sport performance and experience higher self-esteem. Conversely, athletes who view success as being the best are generally less satisfied with their performance and report lower self-esteem. Notably, these relationships do not appear to be stronger in athletes with a stronger identification with their athlete role.

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