Generalization of achievement orientations for experiences of success and failure in youth sport

Studies of achievement orientations in sport have focused on subjective success. This study explored the extent to which these orientations generalize to subjective failure. 796 youth sport participants ages 9 to 16 years (338 boys, 458 girls) recalled personal experiences of success and failure. These were then categorized as mastery, comparison or social recognition orientations. In 60% of cases, participants used the same orientation to interpret success and failure. In the middle and oldest groups, such generalization was most frequent for mastery orientations in girls but for comparative orientations in boys. In the youngest groups, mastery orientations generalized most frequently for each sex. Hence achievement orientations generalized across type of experience, but with differences by age and sex.