Exploring The Development of Passion in Paralympic Athletes

This study examined some of the psychosocial factors that affect the development of passion and identity association with sport by Paralympic athletes. Athletes (n=81) enrolled in the Australian Paralympic Preparation Program and completed measures for achievement goals, sport participation, role and organisation engagement, sport performance level, and passion during the lead up to the 2012 Beijing Paralympic Games. Results of regression analysis supported the general hypothesis that factors associated with being an athlete play a role in the development of passion and more specifically, role engagement, mastery goal, behavioural and cognitive involvement were factors that predicted the passion of a Paralympic athlete. Striving to learn a sport and an active involvement in the role of being an athlete may lead to passionate engagement, not only with a sport, but also engagement with society more broadly.