Investigation of attachment, relationship building and psychological needs in sports in athletes

In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between attachment styles, relationship building and psychological needs in sports in athletes. Within the scope of this study, 279 adult individuals who are interested in any sport and regularly continue their training were included in the study. Socio-demographic information form, Relationship Scales Questionnaire, Kerns Attachment Scale and Psychological Needs in Sport Scale (PNSS) were applied to the participants. After the data were collected in the study, they were entered into SPSS 25.0 software and independent sample t-test and Pearson Correlation were applied for comparison and correlation analyses. Hierarchical regression analysis was applied to examine the predictors of psychological needs in sports sub-dimensions by attachment styles. According to the findings of the study, autonomy satisfaction and secure attachment scores were found to be higher in single participants compared to married participants. According to the education level, the sub-dimensions of the participants' competence and autonomyn inhibition were found to be significantly higher in high school graduates. In addition, when the findings on the relationship between attachment styles and psychological needs in sports were examined, it was found that secure attachment was positively and significantly related to autonomy and competence satisfaction. In addition, secure attachment was negatively and significantly correlated with autonomy and competence inhibition. Fearful, dismissive, and preoccupied attachment dimensions were found to be positively and significantly related to autonomy and competence inhibition. While secure attachment significantly predicted needs satisfaction sub-dimensions positively; It was found that insecure attachment styles (fearful, preoccupied, and dismissive) predicted inhibition sub-dimensions positively and significantly. The findings obtained in the study are important in terms of understanding the role of attachment styles shaped by early experiences in terms of maintaining motivational processes of individuals in sports and it is thought that it can be supported by future research.