Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among perceived motivational climates, individual and social orientations, and adjustment to university athletic clubs. We set a basic study model that the presence of motivational climates would promote individual and social orientations, which in turn would increase student athletes’ adjustment to athletic clubs. The participants were 269 university athletes and they completed a questionnaire (including questions about motivational climate in university athletic club, sports individual and social orientation scale, and adjustment scale to college club activities). The validity of this model was verified using structural equation modeling. The model was demonstrated to be valid. Furthermore, the results of this study suggested the following processes: (1) Coach’ s promotion of task orientation had a positive influence on adjustment to coach relationships, whereas the coach’s promotion of performance orientation and recognition had a negative influence on adjustment to coach relationships. (2) The cooperation and recognition had a positive influence on adjustment to teammate relationships. (3) The cooperation and competition had a positive influence on adjustment to club practice environment, whereas the coach’s promotion of performance orientation had negative influence on adjustment to club practice environment. (4) The cooperation, recognition, and competition had a positive influence on social orientation, which in turn had a positive influence on adjustment to coach relationships, adjustment to teammate relationships, and adjustment to club a practice environment. (5) The competition had a positive influence on individual orientation, which in turn had a positive influence on adjustment to coach relationships, adjustment to teammate relationships, and adjustment to club practice environment. In conclusion, to enhance university athletes’ adjustment in university athletic clubs, it is important for coaches to cultivate a climate of cooperation, recognition, and competition in university athletic clubs. Moreover, it is important to improve the social orientation of university athletes.
