Describing the Relationship Between Perceived Motivational Climate and Readiness for Psychological Skills Training Amongst NCAA Division II Athletes

Abstract

Sport Psychologists and sport psychology consultants alike face a challenge in receiving acceptable levels of readiness for psychological skills training (PST). The Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change (TTM) has been identified as a suitable tool to assess levels of readiness for PST. The purpose of this dissertation was to describe NCAA Divisional II athletes’ relationships between motivational climate and readiness, willingness and ability to use PST, as measured by the TTM. Participants (n=181) completed perceived motivational climate, caring climate, stage of change, processes of change, decisional balance, and self-efficacy questionnaires. Canonical correlation analysis revealed that perception of a task-involving motivational climate significantly associates with readiness, and willingness to use PST. A multiple regression model revealed that prior experience and task-involving climates significantly predict ability to use PST. In addition, NCAA Division II athletes were shown to contemplate use of PST at similar rates to those of NCAA Division I athletes.