Association Between Passion and Basic Psychological Needs in Sport: A Systematic Literature Review
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Abstract
Passion and basic psychological needs are considered determining factors for successful experiences in sports, both in the initiation of sports and in high performance. This study aimed to systematically review the literature on the associations between passion and basic psychological needs in sports among athletes. Searches were conducted in the electronic databases PubMed, SportDiscus, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scielo, PsycINFO, LILACS, and Periódicos CAPES. The descriptors used were: Passion, Dualistic Model Passion, Basic Psychological Needs, Self-determination Theory, Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction, Basic Psychological Needs Frustration, Sport, Athlete, and Athletic, for constructing search strategies across the different databases. The review included 12 studies published between 2013 and 2022, using quantitative analysis (100%). The research focused on Europe (50%) and North America (50%). The results showed that passion and basic psychological needs were associated with positive emotional aspects (satisfaction with life, motivational regulations, goal achievement, reflection, athletic and academic identity, intrinsic motivation), negative emotional aspects (burnout, disruption of concentration, conflicts between sport and other domains of life), and physical aspects (performance, deliberate practice, and quality in preparation). In conclusion, harmonious passion and the satisfaction of basic psychological needs seem to contribute to life satisfaction, deliberate practice, and athletic performance. Conversely, obsessive passion was associated with reduced life satisfaction, controlled motivation, and burnout.
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