A systematic scoping review of peer motivational climate in youth sports and physical activity: a bi-decennial update

Abstract

It has been 20 years since the term “peer motivational climate” was first conceptualized and measured. The purpose of this systematic scoping review was to (i) quantify the literature on the study characteristics and methodologies of peer motivational climate research, (ii) examine the scope and consistency of associations between peer motivational climate and other psychosocial factors, and (iii) explore its interplay with motivational climates created by other social agents. Three databases were searched and all studies published in English were screened for inclusion. Of the 54 studies included, most were cross-sectional (N = 30, 55.55%), and adolescents were the most frequently researched participants (N = 42, 77.77%). Peer motivational climate was explored mainly in competitive sports (N = 27, 50%), followed by non-competitive sports and exercise (N = 21, 38.88%), with only six studies conducted in PE (Physical Education) contexts. Seven research categories and four different interplays among social agents (parents, coaches, teachers, and peers) were identified. Overall, a peer task-involving climate has been more linked to adaptive outcomes while there were also relations between a peer ego-involving climate and maladaptive outcomes (e.g., negative affect and basic psychological need thwarting), but the latter were less consistent. Importantly, the ways peers and adults predicted youth's motivation were distinct. This scoping review can guide not only practitioners into harmonizing different peer motivational climates to optimize youth sports and physical activity experiences but also researchers into future avenues with broader scope and methodologies on peer motivational climate research.