DISPOSITIONAL FLOW IN LIFESAVING SPORT A SELF-DETERMINATION THEORY APPROACH

This study analyzed the relationships between perceived motivational climates, psychological mediators, self-determined motivation and dispositional flow in lifesaving sport. The study variables also examined differences according to gender, age and daily practice time. A total of 283 athletes with a mean age of 17.27 years (SD = 3.36) who completed the Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire-2 (PMCSQ-2), the Motivational Mediators in Sport Scale (EMMD), the Sport Motivational Scale (SMS) and the Dispositional Flow Scale (DFS) participated in the study. The results revealed that perceived task and ego-involving motivational climates, perceived competence and autonomy, and self-determined motivation positively predicted dispositional flow with 50% of the variance explained. Men reported higher scores in autonomy, competence and dispositional flow than women did. Older athletes displayed a higher level of perceived autonomy than younger ones. The results are discussed in connection with the motivational factors important to improving dispositional flow.