A person-centered approach to achievement goal orientations in competitive tennis players: Associations with motivation and mental toughness

Background:Research on achievement goal orientations in sport has typically relied on the use of variable-centered approaches that tend to overlook population heterogeneity.In this study,we used a person-centered approach to identify subgroups of competitive tennis players according to unique combinations of achievement goal orientations and tested for subgroup differences in motivation and mental toughness.Methods:A sample of 323 competitive tennis athletes(69.35%male)between 15 and 25 years of age(17.60±2.40 years,mean±SD)completed the 3×2 Achievement Goal Questionnaire for Sport,Sport Motivation Scale Ⅱ,and Mental Toughness Index.Latent profile analysis was used to identify unique combinations of achievement goal orientations.Comparisons between latent subgroups on autonomous motivation,controlled motivation,and mental toughness were performed using analysis of variance.Results:Latent profile analysis supported 3 distinct patterns of achievement goal profiles that were primarily distinguishable based on valence of competence(i.e.,approach vs.avoidance).Analyses of variance indicated that athletes who were classified into subgroups that endorsed approach types of goals(regardless of the types of avoidance goals they endorsed)reported higher levels of autonomous motivation and mental toughness.Conclusion:Results indicated that athletes tend to pursue a number of achievement goals collectively rather than in isolation.Although approach goals are more commonly linked to adaptive psychological functioning and positive outcomes,avoidance goals may also be associated with desirable psychological characteristics if they are pursued in conjunction with approach types of achievement goals.

Self-Efficacy Triggers Psychological Appraisal Mechanism for Mindset Shift

This paper talks about how to insist staying in changed mindset based on the assigned cognitive reframing principles,andfinally the changed mindset become a forever psychological status by PSI model proposed by this study.P is the cognitive reframing principle of positive psychology,happiness in this case;S is self-efficacy,which plays the important role in maintaining the stress taker to psychologically stay in the changed mindset in the long run.I represent of insisting power,the mental toughness to against the adverse negative emotions.Improving university students’stress coping skills through the psychological dynamics formed by cognitive reframing principles of positive psychology,self-efficacy,and mental toughness will help them effectively deal with stressful events.This study aims to reduce university students’stress level by increasing their ability to cope with stress,and improving their life satisfaction by understanding the mechanism for mindset-shift of university students and proposal of the new PSI reframing model for creating a new path to let students view stressors as challenge,not hindrance.Theories adopted in this study include cognitive reframing principles,appraisal theory,hindrance-challenge theory,cognitive reframing the schema.In the introduction section,the authors will clearly depict the logics for utilization of these theories in supporting the proposed PSI model.This research was divided into two studies.Study 1 postulated that cognitive reframing principles of positive psychology,self-efficacy,and mental toughness have a positive mediating effect in the causal relationship between university students’stress level and life satisfaction.Findings revealed that stressful life events negatively predict the level of LS.Also,PP,SE,and MT exert a positive and significant impact on the relationship between stressful life events and LS.PP strengthens individuals’perception of stressful life events as chal-lenges instead of hindrances.This study showed that individuals need to think positively and develop self-efficacy in order to generate mental toughness when confronted with challenges from stressful life events,and needs to have self-efficacy and confidence towards cognitive reframing principles of positive psychology in their mind,andfinally form a mental toughness competence to protect the newly changed mindset in the long run.