Differences in motivational orientation and psychobiosocial states among young sports Italian talents

The psychological characteristics play a key role in the development of Sport Talents (ST). The purpose of this study was to investigate the motivational orientations and psychobiosocial states in young Italian ST, by analyzing athletes of different sport, age and gender. Participants were 123 young athletes (71 Males; 52 Females, 49 aged 13-14y and 74 aged 15-17y from Emilia-Romagna, Italy, practicing the following sports. [ENDURANCE (EN): Cycling n=12, Canoe n=12, Swimming n=7, Pentathlon n=9, Cross-Country-Skiing n=7, Triathlon n=9; SITUATIONAL (SIT): Basketball n=6, Volleyball n=8, Handball n=7, Hockey n=4, Tennis n=8, Alpine-Skiing n=1), TECHNICAL AND STRENGTH-POWER (TSP): Track&Field n=19, Sport-Dance n=8, Figure-Skating n=6)]. Athletes completed the Task and Ego Orientation Self Questionnaire (TEOSQ) and a Psychobiosocial Questionnaire (PBS), in order to assess the motivational orientations and psychobiosocial states respectively. Significant differences were detected in the Ego orientation score between genders (p=0.034), and between EN and both SIT and TSP (p<0.01). Ego mean scores in males were 28 and 23-24 for EN and SIT/TSP, respectively, while in females 23 and 19, respectively. Higher Ego scores (>30) were obtained by males competing in Triathlon, Cycling, Canoe and Figure Skating, while the highest values (>23) among females were recorded in Swimmers, Triathletes and Volleyball players. Volleyball and Basketball players and Hockey and Tennis players showed the lowest values among males (<21) and females (<18), respectively. Genders did not show significant differences in the Task orientation component. Sport-Dance, Alpine-Skiing, Cycling and Swimming athletes showed the highest scores (>36), significantly different from the lowest, represented by Pentathlon, Basketball and Handball (<34). Significantly lower scores (p=0.009) for negative PBS were detected in 13-14 years old athletes compared to 15-17 years old group, with PBS- scores of 4.3 vs 6.2 respectively. High task orientation and low negative PBS scores characterize a high percentage of the entire group.