The Impact of Social Factors and Environment on Athlete Motivation and Performance in Sports

Abstract

This concept paper will discuss the factors that may have an impact on motivation in a sporting context. Notably, there are many factors that have an impact on athlete’s motivation and subsequently, it may have an impact on sports performance. This includes psychological, physical, and social factors. In respect to social component, family, peers, media, training facilities and weather conditions are the factors that may influence motivation.  Thus, the main aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of social and environmental factors on motivation particularly in sports. Previous research observed that social factor such as family and peer support may have an influence on athlete’s motivation in achieving optimal performance. Also, a suitable and conducive training environment have been found to increase athlete’s motivation and performance. Further, another factor that is still debatable is the role of social media on motivation. Social media has been found to have a positive impact on athlete motivation if only athletes use it wisely. However, a study reported that the over usage of social media caused unnecessary pressure and reduced athlete’s motivation to continue practicing. In conclusion, social and environmental factors play a crucial role in influencing athlete motivation and performance in sports. Therefore, all the previous findings provide useful insights for coaches and sport psychologist in designing training aid for athletes to achieve optimal performance.