Autonomy support by choosing task order enhances the performance of form-based motor skills in gymnastics

Autonomy support is associated with enhanced motor performance, learning, and psychological well-being across various populations and motor skills. However, research on autonomy support remains limited, and current evidence is predominantly observational, with no studies on the performance of aesthetic sports. This study examined the effect of the autonomy support condition – specifically, allowing gymnasts to choose the task order – on motor performance in comparison to a yoked control condition. Thirty female gymnasts (age range 11–22 years, Mage = 13.8, SD = 2.52) completed three form-based tasks (jumping, static strength, and coordination) under both autonomy and control conditions in a counterbalanced within-subject design, performing five trials per task. Two certified judges evaluated the performance. The participants also completed the 10-point Borg scale for perceived exertion (both before and after each condition) and the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (after each condition), assessing perceived choice, perceived competence, and pressure/tension. Linear mixed-effects modelling revealed better performance under autonomy than under the control condition (β = 0.017 [0.004, 0.031], p = 0.011). Perceived exertion was higher in autonomy than in the control condition (β = −0.275 [−0.539, –0.011], p = 0.042), and in the post- compared to pre-condition (β = 1.47 [1.211, 1.74], p < 0.001). No statistically discernible differences were observed for any of the intrinsic motivation measures (all βs < −0.08, all ps > 0.101). In line with our predictions, autonomy-supportive conditions enhanced gymnasts’ performance of form-based motor skills in gymnastics. This result contributes novel experimental evidence to the growing literature on autonomy and motor performance.