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University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

So you are having a bad day: gender, goal orientation and in-competition attrition rate in competitive cyclists

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Cycling is an endurance sport defined by races that require long intensive efforts. In this atmosphere, athletes who experience a self-proclaimed “bad day” may be inclined to drop out of a competition instead of complete it. Previous research has shown that male athletes demonstrated higher levels of ego orientation and extrinsic motivation while female athletes demonstrated higher levels of goal orientation and intrinsic motivation (White & Duda, 1994). The current study examines the relationship of gender, goal orientation and participation motivation to in-competition drop-out rates among competitive cyclists. Specifically, it was hypothesized that the decision to prematurely drop out of a race is influenced by an athlete’s goal orientation (ego or task) and their intrinsic and/or extrinsic motivations for participating. Results demonstrated higher in-competition drop-out rates among male cyclists than that of female cyclists. Completion rates were also assessed in relation to goal orientation and participation motivation and demonstrated lower levels of ego orientation, higher levels of task orientation, and higher levels of intrinsic motivation among female cyclists in comparison to male cyclists.

Degree

thesis:*
Grantor dc:publisher
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Fasczewski, Kimberly Sue
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Weathington, Bart L.
  • Johnson, Michael B.; Ross, David F.
  • College of Arts and Sciences

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

dc:rights
Language dc:language
English, eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/21
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:scholar.utc.edu:theses-1020

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
Base URL
scholar.utc.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Fasczewski, Kimberly Sue. So you are having a bad day: gender, goal orientation and in-competition attrition rate in competitive cyclists. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/21