Achievement goal orientations profile in people with physical disability

Abstract

Introduction: Achievement goals assumes that govern achievement beliefs guide subsequent decision making and behavior in achievement contexts. The purpose of the study was to analyze the goal perspectives (task and ego orientation) based on personal and disability-related characteristics. Material and methods: The participants in this study were 140 people with physical disabilities (n=107 men, and n=33 women. Their age ranged from 14 to 67 years (M=35.31, SD=10.67). The participants filled the Task and Ego Orientation in Sports Questionnaire (TEOSQ). In addition following factors were put into analysis: gender, age, family status, education, occupational status, disability [congenital versus acquired], type of disability [spinal cord injury, brain palsy, amputation, poliomyelitis, muscular dystrophy and other type], type of activity [sport activities – competitive versus recreational – and any activity], type of sport [team versus individual sports], type of experience [resistance, strength and skills], and type of games [Paralympic, European, National and Sectional]). Results: Results showed that people with physical disabilities who mainly take part in physical activities manifest a high disposition of task orientation (M=3.96, SD=0.67) and moderate ego orientation (M=2.61, SD=0.82) in physical activities settings. In addition, the results revealed that personal characteristics, type of activity, and athletic experience play a small role in the existence of individual differences in goal perspectives. Conclusions: The people with physical disabilities, mainly athletes, show a predisposition towards task orientation on achievement settings in physical activities, and the personal characteristics as exercise form (competitive, recreation, no exercise), and athletic experiences effect in the existence of individual differences in goal perspectives.