Abstract
Grounded in self-determination theory, this study examined the implications of differentiating between within-person weekly changes and between-person differences in average levels of autonomy support and internalized motivation for one’s self-esteem and self-efficacy. Thirty-nine adults who were socially disadvantaged and unemployed completed weekly questionnaire assessments over 11-weeks of a sports-based educational program. Multilevel modeling revealed that within-person changes in perceptions of autonomy support positively predicted identified regulation and introjected regulation; however, between-person differences in perceived autonomy support predicted identified regulation only. Within-person changes in introjected regulation positively predicted global self-esteem and self-efficacy towards future employment in coaching; however, between-person differences in introjected regulation negatively predicted self-esteem and self-efficacy. In contrast, within-person changes in identified regulation, as well as between-person differences, were positively associated with self-efficacy. Between-person differences in identified regulation also positively predicted self-esteem. It was also demonstrated that many of these contrasting relationships are hidden if the different processes are not disaggregated. As a result, we propose that different internalization processes exist which depend on whether within-person changes or sustained levels of motivation are explored.
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Notes
Self-determination theorists also propose different motivational regulations, including intrinsic (e.g., acting out of inherent interest or enjoyment) and external regulations (e.g., being driven by external contingencies, such as reward or punishment). We did not examine these regulations as the relationships among these motives, autonomy support and self-evaluations were not expected to demonstrate nuanced differences across within-person and between-person levels of analysis.
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Cowan, D.T., Taylor, I.M. The importance of disaggregating within-person changes and individual differences among internalized motives, self-esteem and self-efficacy. Motiv Emot 39, 489–497 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-014-9466-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-014-9466-6