Exploring sport motivation and multi-dimensional wellness in NCAA Division II student-athletes

Abstract

Too few studies relating to motivation and wellness have targeted the NCAA Division II student-athlete (SA) population. PURPOSES: To examine differences in SAs’ sport motivation (SM) types over three time points as well as multi-dimensional wellness (MDW) levels in SAs during one time point. METHODS: Overall, 530 Division II SAs (nmales = 355, nfemales = 175) with an overall age range of 18 to 23 (M = 19.40, SD = 1.33) from 21 teams voluntarily completed the 18-item Self-Determination Theory-based SM Scale II used to measure six motivation types, the 45-item MDW Inventory used to measure nine wellness dimensions, and a demographics questionnaire. Repeated measures Analyses of Variance (ANOVA) and 2x2x3 Mixed ANOVAs were used to analyze SM types while a multivariate ANOVA was used to analyze MDW with an alpha level of 0.05 set for statistical significance. RESULTS: Analyses demonstrated statistically significant differences in SM types over time (p = .05), interactions and differences in SM types between interactive/coactive and male/female SAs (p = .05), and interactions and differences in MDW levels between male/female SAs and SAs who completed/did not complete a college wellness course (p = .05). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggested that autonomous-based SM types decreased over time whereas amotivation increased over time indicating possible athlete burnout. Interactive and female SAs showed similarities also representative of athlete burnout. SAs who completed the MDW course demonstrated higher physical wellness exercise scores than SAs who did not. Female SAs had higher means in five wellness dimensions when compared to male SAs. SAs who completed the course showed higher means for seven wellness dimensions versus SAs who did not. Further research should ensue to better understand motivation and wellness on a national scale examining Division I, II and III and NAIA athletes in order to provide more generalizable results.