Athletes’ Self-Regulatory Responses to Unattainable Athletic Goals: Effects of Need-Supportive Vs. Need-Thwarting Coaching and Athletes’ Motivation

This study examined need-supportive vs. thwarting coaching and autonomous vs. controlled motivation (Ryan & Deci, 2017) as predictors of goal disengagement responses (Wrosch, Scheier, and Miller, 2017) among Canadian athletes. Autonomous motivation was negatively associated with disengagement. Supportive and thwarting coaching behaviors exerted indirect effects on disengagement via autonomous motivation.