The Two Dimensions of Passion for Sport: A New Look Using a Quadripartite Approach

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Benjamin J.I. Schellenberg Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

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Jérémie Verner-Filion Département des sciences de L’éducation, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau, QC, Canada

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Patrick Gaudreau School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

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Sophia Mbabaali Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2021-0048
Keywords:
dualistic model of passion; harmonious passion; obsessive passion
First Published Online:
27 Oct 2021
In Print:
Volume 43: Issue 6
Page Range:
459–476
Restricted access

Research relying on the dualistic model of passion has consistently found that harmonious passion for sport is positively associated with adaptive outcomes and that obsessive passion for sport is positively associated with maladaptive outcomes. In this research, we tested if various sport outcomes were related to within-person combinations of both harmonious and obsessive passion. Three samples of athletes (total N = 1,290) completed online surveys that assessed various sport outcomes (e.g., sport enjoyment, goal attainment), along with harmonious and obsessive passion for their sport. We found that athletes were best served by having either high harmonious passion or low obsessive passion or, in many cases, high harmonious passion that was combined with low obsessive passion. These results add to our understanding of passion by showing that combinations of harmonious and obsessive passion for sport are differentially associated with indicators of a positive sport experience.

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