The application of Goal Setting Theory to goal setting interventions in sport: a systematic review
Open accessAbstract
Goal setting is one of the most frequently used mental skills in sports, and Goal Setting Theory has been the most prominent theoretical framework upon which goal setting interventions are based. The present study provides a systematic review examining how the tenets of GST have been applied to goal setting interventions in sport. A total of 27 peer-reviewed studies written in English, which implemented goal setting interventions with athletes in a sport-specific, applied (i.e. non-laboratory) context, were examined. The studies included athletes from a range of individual and team sports. The majority of these studies were characterized by their small sample size and strong focus on performance as an outcome measure. Overall, there was inconsistent application of, and mixed evidence supporting theorizing around, the goal characteristics (goal difficulty, specificity, proximity, source, and type) and moderators (ability, commitment, feedback, complexity, and resources) suggested in GST. As the first systematic review of goal setting interventions focused exclusively on athletes in applied sport contexts, the present review provides insight for athletes, coaches, sport psychology practitioners, and researchers. Applied implications and future research directions (e.g. testing individualized goal setting interventions) are provided.
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Literature suggests using BCTT with behaviour change theories and frameworks, such as goal setting theory, TTM, TRA, and COM-B framework, for more effective and sustainable behaviour change.
“Literature suggests using BCTT with behaviour change theories and frameworks, such as goal setting theory, TTM, TRA, and Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) framework, for more effective and sustainable behaviour change [64–67].”
From School-based healthy eating interventions for adolescents aged 10–19 years: an umbrella review (2024) · cites this paper as [66]
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“Regarding goal proximity, there was mixed support overall for GST ’ s theorizing that using the combination of short-term and long-term goals is more e ff ective than control groups, or using either goal alone (Locke & Latham, 2002).”
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Williamson, O., Swann, C., Bennett, K. J. M., Bird, M. D., Goddard, S. G., Schweickle, M. J., & Jackman, P. C. (2024) · International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology · doi:10.1080/1750984x.2022.2116723 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
School-based healthy eating interventions for adolescents aged 10–19 years: an umbrella review
Samad, N., Bearne, L., Noor, F. M., Akter, F., & Parmar, D. (2024) · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · doi:10.1186/s12966-024-01668-6 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Jeong, Y. H., Healy, L. C., & McEwan, D.
- Affiliations
- Nottingham Trent University (GB)
- University of Bath (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Healy, Laura Catherine
- Venue
- International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2021-03-16
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 474-499
- ISSN
- 1750-984X (ISSN-L)
- 1750-9858
- OpenAlex
- W3136302714
- Cited by
- 113
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 3.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Nottingham Trent University's Institutional Repository (Nottingham Trent Repository) (acceptedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Keywords
- goal setting theory, goal-setting intervention, sport psychology, athletes, goal characteristics, goal difficulty, goal specificity, goal commitment, feedback, individualized goal setting, performance outcomes
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