title: The relationship between an effort goal and self-regulatory efficacy beliefs for division I football players.
abstract: When training for sport, it can be argued that self-regulation-or how athletes attempt to learn new skills-is vital for success. However, self-regulation means little if athletes cannot apply it in the throes of adversity. Specifically, the confidence one has to use self-regulation skills (i.e., self-regulatory efficacy [SRE]) when faced with adverse conditions can contribute to positive or negative behavioral implications when examined in conjunction with an athlete's current goals. Therefore, the purpose of this study was twofold: (a) determine if athletes who hold an effort goal when training for sport will have higher SRE scores; and (b) assess the relationship between effort goals and SRE, as the strength of one's effort goal increases. In phase 1, interviews with 11 Division I athletes were conducted to determine the most salient dissuading conditions athletes experience when training for sport. This process resulted in 27 factors that were implemented into a questionnaire for phase 2. During this latter phase, 402 Division I football players (Mage = 20.1 years, SD = 1.3 years) completed a 2-part goal statement along with an SRE questionnaire. The results indicated that athletes who held a criterion effort goal related to training (n = 362) had significantly higher SRE scores when compared with athletes who did not report having an effort goal F(27,401) = 1.89, p < 0.01. Additionally, as athletes' effort goal increased, stronger SRE beliefs resulted for all dissuading conditions, with all p values <0.05. Based on these results, practitioners are encouraged to facilitate goal setting sessions early and often with athletes as a way to combat the negative effects of low SRE beliefs.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Illinois 2Department of Psychiatry, Yale Stress Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Todd A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Gilson
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Stults-Kolehmainen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult