The relationship between the perception of reduced performance due to injury or illness and basic psychological need satisfaction in Norwegian youth elite handball: a cross-lagged panel analysis

This study investigated the relationship between perceived reduction in performance due to injury or illness (RPII) and basic psychological need satisfaction youth elite handball. Participants were 174 handball players 15 18 years of age, from five different sport schools. It was a quantitative study, with two time points (one week apart), resulting crossed-lagged structural equation model. Competence relatedness found invariant across points, autonomy not. The model showed good fit ((S- B χ²) = [df 130, N= 174] 182.327, p < .0017; CFI .96; RMSEA .05 [.03-.06], SRMR .08). (β= .64, 95%CI: .51, .76), .77, .66, .88) RPII .37, .66) moderate temporal stability. When accounting for previous levels needs, negatively predicted competence -.20, -.35, .83) -.16, -.30, -.01). Taken together, these findings suggest that experiencing can have implications handball, showing factors other than psychosocial ones may play role therein.