'Is The Relationship Between Motivational Climate and Burnout Explained By Levels of Self-Determination?'

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify if the satisfaction of the three basic needs mediated the relationship between the perception of motivational climate and levels of burnout. Research has proven that the perception of the motivational climate can influence levels of burnout (Lemyre et al. 2008). Additionally, research has shown that the satisfaction of basic needs can be regulated by the perception of the motivational climate (Ntoumains, 2001), and satisfactory levels can also influence levels of burnout (Cresswell & Eklund, 2005a). Basic needs satisfaction was seen as a mediating variable which could give a motivational explanation to the relationship between perceptions of the motivational climate (independent variable) and burnout (dependant variable). It was hypothesized that changes in the satisfaction of basic needs will significantly mediate the relationship between the perception of motivational climate and the development of burnout. Two hundred and thirty one mixed gender University sport students, aged 18 to 28 (M= 19.67, SD= ±1.24) from various sports and skill levels were used in this study. Data was collected using the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), the Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire- 2 (PMCSQ-2); the TARGET subscale, and the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction in Sport Scale (BNSSS). A hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that basic psychological needs partially mediated physical and emotional exhaustion (R2= 0.07, F3,227 =6.09, P<0.05**), and fully mediated both reduced sense of accomplishments (R2= 0.37, F3,227 =45.51, P<0.05**) and devaluation (R2= 0.37, F3,227 =45.25, P<0.05**). The satisfaction of autonomy demonstrated to be the strongest predictor of all of three of the burnout subscales. Correlations of subscale scores were as expected, however physical and emotional exhaustion was not significantly correlated with all of the basic psychological need subscales which might explain why basic need satisfaction only partially mediated the relationship. The current study expanded the current knowledge on the relationship between the perceptions of the motivational climate and burnout, and demonstrated that basic needs satisfaction could provide a motivational explanation to the interaction. The results also further advocates and supports the importance that coaches should be aware of the importance of satisfying basic psychological needs, and that they can satisfy these needs by the manipulating the motivational climate. It is suggested that any future research on the relationship between perception of motivational climate and burnout should consider the effects of basic need satisfaction on the relationship.