Intrinsic Motivation and Task and Ego Orientation in Athletes of Climbing

Alkistis Papaioannou1, Anna Kourtesopoulou2 & Bibi Konstandakatou2

1Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Hellas

2Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Hellas

Abstract

Motivation is one of the major aspects in sport psychology for both physical education and sport. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between intrinsic motivation and task and ego ori- entation in athletes of climbing to estimate the factors that affects in the configuration of level of intrinsic motivation and the objects that determine the behavior of athletes. The sample was consisted of 100 athletes of climbing (71 men and 29 women), age 18 to 32 years, (M = 25.9), which had mean of weekly training 3,55 times/week and mean of degree of difficulty "7+". Participants completed the questionnaire of intrinsic mo- tivation (McAuley, Duncan & Tammen, 1989) and the questionnaire of task and ego orientation in sport (Duda & Nicholls, 1992). The results showed that exist significant differences in intrinsic motivation, de- pending on sex, experience and level of athletes. Also was found statistically significant cross-correlation between competence, tension and enjoyment interest with task orientation. From these results it appears that the athletes of rock climbing focus their attention in improvement of their skills, overcome intense effort and drawing enjoyment interest through their personal improvement, proving that competence in combination with hard effort is decisive importance factors that lead to success and aid of their self-confidence.

Key words: intrinsic motivation, task and ego orientation in sport, climbing