Effects of goal setting on fear of failure in young elite athletes

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effects of goal setting on fear of failure in young elite athletes

AU - Wikman, Johan Michael

AU - Stelter, Reinhard

AU - Melzer, Marcus

AU - Hauge, Marie-Louise Trier

AU - Elbe, Anne-Marie

N1 - CURIS 2014 NEXS 047

PY - 2014/7

Y1 - 2014/7

N2 - This study reports the effects of a goal-setting intervention on fear of failure in young elite athletes. Using the hierarchical model of approach and avoidance motivation as a theoretical vantage point, a goal-setting intervention using mastery-approach goals and existing goalsetting recommendations was used as intervention. The goal-setting group (n = 33) attended 12 weekly, one-hour goal-setting sessions, while the control group (n = 16) did not. A Danish version of the short form of the Achievement Motives Scale-Sport was tested with a confirmatory factor analysis and showed good fit. It was used to measure fear of failure at baseline, at the end of intervention and at follow-up, 12 weeks after intervention had ended. Results showed that in the goal-setting group, fear of failure decreased significantly from baseline to end of intervention, but increased again from end of intervention to follow-up. This indicates that fear of failure is an achievement motive disposition that can be changed through certain achievement experiences. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

AB - This study reports the effects of a goal-setting intervention on fear of failure in young elite athletes. Using the hierarchical model of approach and avoidance motivation as a theoretical vantage point, a goal-setting intervention using mastery-approach goals and existing goalsetting recommendations was used as intervention. The goal-setting group (n = 33) attended 12 weekly, one-hour goal-setting sessions, while the control group (n = 16) did not. A Danish version of the short form of the Achievement Motives Scale-Sport was tested with a confirmatory factor analysis and showed good fit. It was used to measure fear of failure at baseline, at the end of intervention and at follow-up, 12 weeks after intervention had ended. Results showed that in the goal-setting group, fear of failure decreased significantly from baseline to end of intervention, but increased again from end of intervention to follow-up. This indicates that fear of failure is an achievement motive disposition that can be changed through certain achievement experiences. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

KW - psychology

KW - sports and games

U2 - 10.1080/1612197x.2014.881070

DO - 10.1080/1612197x.2014.881070

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1612-197X

VL - 12

SP - 185

EP - 205

JO - International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology

JF - International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology

IS - 3

ER -