Jesper Barth Bugten

• Bugten, Jesper Barth; Solstad, Bård Erlend; Ivarsson, Andreas; Spencer, Matthew; Stenling, Andreas & Haugen, Tommy (2026). Youth Sport Players' Enjoyment in Team Practice Sessions: The Daily Impact of Coaches and Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology (JSEP). ISSN 0895-2779. 48(5), p. 315–323. doi: 10.1123/jsep.2025-0306. Full text in Research Archive
• Bugten, Jesper Barth; Haugen, Tommy; Ivarsson, Andreas; Knight, Camilla J.; Ommundsen, Yngvar & Spencer, Matthew [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2025). Daily measures of sport enjoyment, social interaction, and attendance among female adolescent handball players. Psychology of Sport And Exercise. ISSN 1469-0292. 79. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.102852. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This study investigates how sport enjoyment and the immediate impact of social interactions with peers and coaches influence short-term sport participation among early adolescent female handball players. By using a diary study approach, data from 27 players over 10 practices in 4 weeks (270 measurement points) were collected. The findings revealed that coach controlling use of rewards during practice increased the risk of non-attendance at the subsequent practices, while peer relatedness support after practice increased attendance probability. Contrarily, peer intra-team conflict, coach negative conditional regard, and sport enjoyment did not predict attendance, suggesting that peer relatedness support and coach controlling use of rewards are more influential in short-term participation decisions for this group of players. Sport enjoyment during practice, as well as peer relatedness support during and after practice, predicted sport enjoyment the following practice. These results highlight the importance of feedback timing and interaction quality in youth sports. Further exploration is proposed on these dynamics across a wider range of demographics, and longer time periods to understand the impact of short- and long-term sport participation.

• Tingelstad, Lars; Raastad, Truls; Myklebust, Grethe; Andersen, Thor Einar; Solstad, Bård Erlend & Bugten, Jesper Barth [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2025). Age and Sex Differences in Physical Performance Among Adolescent Team Sport Athletes. European Journal of Sport Science (EJSS). ISSN 1746-1391. 25(5). doi: 10.1002/ejsc.12284. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The study aimed to explore the differences in physical performance characteristics across various age groups (U14, U16, and U18) and sexes in adolescent team sport athletes. 473 adolescent Norwegian football and handball players were recruited for anthropometrical and physical performance testing. Performance improved with age in both boys and girls, showing significant differences between age categories. Across all tests, boys outperformed girls, and the sex difference doubled from U14 to U16, such as −5.1% to −10.3% for 30 m sprint, −5.6% to −9.8% for change of direction (CoD), 11% to 21% for countermovement jump (CMJ), and from 5% to 16% for relative strength. No further increase in differences between sexes was observed in the U18 age group. All age groups showed substantial intragroup variability in physical performance tests and anthropometric measures. The main findings from the study were increased sex differences from U14 to U16, but no further increase in sex difference from U16 to U18s as well as considerable individual variation in performance. Girls, maturing earlier than boys and showing less physical performance development, may benefit from earlier introduction to strength training to boost their physical development. Moreover, the considerable individual variation underscores the need for tailored individualized programs.

• Bugten, Jesper Barth; Lugo, Ricardo G. & Steptoe, Karl (2021). Validation of the Need for Competing Inventory. Frontiers in Psychology. 12, p. 1–11. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.721903. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Past studies have been conducted on competitiveness and achievement orientation as two noncooperative explanations for achievement motivation and achievement behavior. But a complimentary representation of a competitive-achievement orientation has yet to be explored. This paper developed and validated the need for competing inventory (NCI), and further investigated its relations with achievement orientation, emotional assessment, self-efficacy, grit, anxiety, and flow. The results from the present study support the theoretical construct of the need for competing, in the hope that it will provide a solid foundation for a competitive-achievement orientation, which is suggested to play a significant role in competitive achievement behavior. It is anticipated that the results from the present study will open a debate for including a competitiveachievement orientation in future research with the aim for a stronger predictor for achievement behavior.

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• Bugten, Jesper Barth; Solstad, Bård Erlend & Haugen, Tommy (2025). Hva får unge håndballjenter til å møte opp på trening? Fedrelandsvennen. doi: https:/www.fvn.no/sport/i/1MKpJB/hva-faar-unge-haandballjenter-til-aa-moete-opp-paa-trening. Full text in Research Archive
• Bugten, Jesper Barth (2023). Vil forske mer på kvinnehåndballen. Full text in Research Archive

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