Autonomy support in sport and exercise settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Drawing from self-determination theory (SDT) and a database of 1,320 correlations across 131 independent samples (N = 38,844), we conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of coach autonomy support in sport and exercise settings. Results showed autonomy support was strongly positively associated with athlete well-being and negatively associated with distress. Consistent with SDT, meta-analyzed correlations were strongest for autonomous forms of athlete motivation (ρ = .39) and weaker for controlled forms of motivation (introjected regulation ρ = .16, external regulation ρ = −.01), and negative with amotivation (ρ = −.19). We found strong positive associations between autonomy support and..