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Self-regulatory processes in goal striving during excellent distance-running performances: A qualitative study
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Self-regulatory processes in goal striving during excellent distance-running performances: A qualitative study

Patricia C. Jackman, Amy E. Whitehead, Christian Swann and Noel E. Brick
Psychology of sport and exercise, Vol.70, 102516
01/2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102516
Appears in  Recent Faculty of Health Publications
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Abstract

Action crisis Elite athlete Endurance activity Goal revision Mental contrasting with implementation intentions Self-regulation Sport and exercise psychology Exercise Organised sports
Objective Goal setting can improve endurance performance, yet how endurance performers maintain goal striving and bring it to a successful close has received limited attention. In this study, we investigated the self-regulatory processes employed by long-distance runners during goal striving in excellent competitive performances. Method Through in-depth, event-focused interviews, we explored 21 long-distance runners’ experiences of goal striving in excellent competitive performances (M = 77.43 h post-race). Furthermore, we recruited 10 additional participants with relevant experiences (runner n = 7, coach n = 2; sport psychologist n = 1) for external member-reflection interviews. Findings Through our matrix analysis, we interpreted that by contrasting their current and future goal status periodically throughout their excellent performances, using a process called mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII), this helped the runners to make decisions about whether to persist with a goal, or disengage from a goal and reengage with an alternative. Furthermore, our findings depict how these goal decisions unfolded when runners perceived they were behind, equalling, or exceeding their goal(s). We also illustrate how goal revision was used as an adaptive process to maximise performance, and to avert or manage action crises. Conclusions Our findings extend theoretical understandings of goal striving and the self-regulatory processes endurance performers employ to attain and/or adapt their goals. Psychological support provided for athletes should go beyond simply setting goals, but also include training on mental frameworks such as MCII to manage goal-striving challenges and decisional conflict encountered during performances.

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