Theses on Mental Health, Motivation and Training
Olle Wallberg and Anton Kalte (2021)
Abstract: Financial distress is a common challenge for professional sports clubs, where high player salaries, amplified by intense player bidding, aggravate the situation. High salaries and performance bonuses are central to clubs' reward systems and aim to attract and motivate players to perform. However, some research on motivation and rewards suggests that extrinsic rewards risk reducing motivation through the “crowding-out effect.” If such effects are present among professional athletes, the rewards not only cause financial distress but also deteriorate motivation and performance. This thesis explores how the current reward systems in Sweden's top hockey league, the SHL, cohere with player motivation.
A qualitative single-case study was conducted through semi-structured interviews with six players and three general managers. The empirical material was analysed using a theoretical framework derived from several motivation theories.
The study confirms a strong monetary focus in the reward systems but concludes that this aligns well with players' extrinsic motivation without negatively affecting their intrinsic motivation. Nevertheless, the focus on extrinsic rewards may be unnecessarily high in relation to the composition of players' motivation. Based on these conclusions, the authors argue that shifting the focus more toward non-monetary rewards could reduce clubs' financial distress without necessarily altering player motivation.
Mind over Body: A Study on Mental Training in Elite Ice Hockey Clubs (BSc)
Joel Birging and Fredrik Börjeson (2018)
Abstract: This study examines how mental skills training in sports is implemented in Swedish elite hockey clubs. It investigates two main areas: how clubs integrate mental skills training into their organizations, and what attitudes toward mental skills training exist within the clubs and how these are shaped by cultural context. A qualitative method is used, based on interviews with 12 employees across three clubs, including players, coaches, mental coaches, and managers. The aim is to develop a deeper understanding of the subject from the perspective of those working with it.
The findings show variation between clubs in how they apply mental skills training. The main difference lies between a top-down structural approach, where a mental coach develops a program implemented across the organization, and a bottom-up approach, where coaches are responsible for working with mental skills training within their teams. The findings also indicate a general shift toward more positive attitudes, with mental skills increasingly regarded as developable. Despite this shift, the masculine culture of hockey remains present, with a social stigma surrounding discussions of mental difficulties and a tendency to display strength within the organization.
Louise Wennerholm and Lina Andreasson (2016)
Abstract: Several studies show evidence of interpersonal influences between team members in sports settings. However, few studies have examined such influences in non-task interdependent teams, a setting that has typically been overlooked in research. This study examines this team setting using data from Olympic national teams. The purpose is to investigate whether interpersonal influences derived from performance exist among team members. A total of 16,870 observations from six Winter Olympic Games and five Summer Olympic Games were collected. The data were analysed in two separate studies using linear regression models and chi-square tests of independence. The results show that interpersonal influences derived from performance exist among team members within an Olympic national team. The results also indicate that these influences vary between nations and types of Olympic Games.
The Motivational Factors Driving Athlete Crowdfunding Investments (MSc)
Oscar Eriksson and Olof Göransson (2015)
Abstract: This thesis contributes to understanding a previously under-researched part of the industry. By adding market-specific knowledge and insights, it provides a foundation for further research on athlete-based crowdfunding investment decisions, as well as for crowdfunding research in other specific markets. The thesis also offers a practical contribution in two parts. First, athletes seeking funding for their careers gain insight into what motivates potential financiers and can increase their chances of funding by presenting themselves in a more informed and appealing way. Second, platforms that act as intermediaries between athlete crowdfunders and investors can better present athletes and match them with investors to increase the likelihood of investment.