Effects of goal setting on fear of failure in young elite athletes

Johan Michael Wikman, Reinhard Stelter, Marcus Melzer, Marie-Louise Trier Hauge, Anne-Marie Elbe

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study reports the effects of a goal-setting intervention on fear of failure in young elite athletes. Using the hierarchical model of approach and avoidance motivation as a theoretical vantage point, a goal-setting intervention using mastery-approach goals and existing goalsetting recommendations was used as intervention. The goal-setting group (n = 33) attended 12 weekly, one-hour goal-setting sessions, while the control group (n = 16) did not. A Danish version of the short form of the Achievement Motives Scale-Sport was tested with a confirmatory factor analysis and showed good fit. It was used to measure fear of failure at baseline, at the end of intervention and at follow-up, 12 weeks after intervention had ended. Results showed that in the goal-setting group, fear of failure decreased significantly from baseline to end of intervention, but increased again from end of intervention to follow-up. This indicates that fear of failure is an achievement motive disposition that can be changed through certain achievement experiences. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
Volume12
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)185-205
Number of pages21
ISSN1612-197X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

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