COMPETITIVE AND RECREATIONAL SPORT STRUCTURES AND GENDER - A TEST OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH SPORT MOTIVATION

This study examined the relationships between competitive and recreati onal sport structures, gender and athletes' sport motivation. Subjects completed the Sport Motivation Scale (SMS), a valid and reliable meas ure of sport motivation which assesses 3 types of intrinsic motivation (intrinsic motivation to know, to accomplish things, and to experienc e stimulation), 3 types of extrinsic motivation (external, introjected , and identified regulation), and amotivation. Results revealed that c ompetitive athletes demonstrated less intrinsic motivation to experien ce stimulation and less intrinsic motivation to accomplish things than recreational athletes, while exhibiting more identified regulation an d more amotivation than this group. Gender differences also emerged. F emale athletes were more intrinsically motivated to accomplish things and exhibited more identified regulation than male athletes, while dis playing less external regulation and less amotivation than this group. Results are discussed in light of Cognitive Evaluation Theory, and fu ture research avenues are offered.