# The 3 × 2 achievement goal questionnaire for recreational sport: Polish validation and athlete goal profiles in relation to psychological characteristics

## TL;DR

This study validates a questionnaire measuring achievement goals in recreational sport for Polish athletes and finds that certain personality traits are linked to healthier motivational profiles.

## Contribution

Validates the 3 × 2 Achievement Goal Questionnaire in the Polish context and identifies psychological traits associated with beneficial goal profiles.

## Key findings

- The questionnaire showed good validity (CFI=0.952, RMSEA=0.076) and reliability (α=0.83–0.94) in the Polish sample.
- Women scored lower than men on self- and other-oriented goal scales.
- Athletes with favorable goal profiles had higher intellect, agreeableness, self-efficacy, and hope for success.

## Abstract

Studying motivational determinants in recreational sport is important because of their health benefits. The 3 × 2 achievement goal model, which was developed relatively recently, has been adapted for recreational sport; however, further validation is needed due to the limited number of existing studies. Therefore, the aim of this study is to validate the 3 × 2 Achievement Goal Questionnaire for Recreational Sport in the Polish cultural context and to identify selected personal determinants for achievement goals and their profiles among athletes.

A total of 345 recreational athletes (177 women and 168 men) with a mean age of 20.84 (SD = 1.94) participated in the study. They reported exercising recreationally on average of 3.42 times per week. The following measures were used: the 3 × 2 Achievement Goal Questionnaire for Recreational Sport, the Goal Orientation in Exercise Measure, the Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale, the IPIP-BFM-20 questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Hope for Success questionnaire.

The construct validity of the questionnaire was satisfactory (CFA model fit: CFI = 0.952, TLI = 0.939, RMSEA = 0.076. SRMR = 0.049), and the scale’s reliability was fully acceptable (α = 0.83–0.94). Women scored lower than men on the self-approach (d=-0.26), other-approach (d=-0.44), and other-avoidance scales (d=-0.22). It was also demonstrated that a group of athletes characterised by a favourable achievement goal profile, including elevated task and self-approach and low other-approach and avoidance, was characterised by higher intellect, agreeableness, self-efficacy and hope for success than the group with lowered task and self scores and elevated intra-group values on the other-approach and avoidance subscales.

The present study supports the validity of the 3 × 2 achievement goal model in recreational sport within the Polish cultural context. High levels of intellect, agreeableness, self-efficacy, and hope for success promote beneficial achievement goals in recreational sport.