Longitudinal Study on the Impact of Intrinsic Motivation and Academic Demands on Stress Levels in College Athletes

Abstract

A two-year longitudinal study examining the association between intrinsic motivation, academic demands, and stress in collegiate athletes uses a mixed-methods design that pairs quantitative data from biannual surveys with qualitative responses in annual semi-structured interviews. Participants: A stratified random sample of 200 collegiate athletes from five universities was chosen based on year in school, sport, and gender to be as diverse as a sample of interest groups. Quantitative measures consisted of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI), Academic Demands Questionnaire (ADQ), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Researchers found that stress levels were much lower in athletes who demonstrated high motivation despite increased academic demands. The institutional review boards approved the study, which complies with the specifications of ethical considerations, including informed consent and confidentiality. The results relate to targeted interventions designed to assist athletes in coping with academic demands and restoring intrinsic motivation.