Examining Motivational Climates and Psychosocial Developmental Outcomes in Adolescent Girls' High Performance Soccer in Canada

Abstract

Youth sport is an important context for positive youth development (PYD); however, it is dependent on program delivery. While mastery-oriented climates are associated with positive developmental outcomes, high-performance sport is often characterized by performance-oriented environments that may pose developmental risks. Given the limited research on motivational climates in high-performance girls' sport, this exploratory study examined perceived coach- and peer-created motivational climates and their relationships with PYD experiences in high- performance girls’ soccer in Canada. Athletes completed self-report measures assessing motivational climate and developmental experiences. Results indicated that athletes perceived relatively high mastery-oriented climates alongside moderate performance-oriented climates and reported moderate-to-high PYD outcomes. Regression analyses revealed mastery-oriented climates were positively associated with goal setting and inversely associated with negative experiences. Overall, findings suggest high-performance girls’ soccer can support PYD, with developmental outcomes shaped by the motivational climates created by coaches and peers.