Perceptions of relationships with parents and peers in youth sport: Independent and combined prediction of motivational outcomes

doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2005.08.006

Psychology of Sport and Exercise

Volume 7, Issue 2, March 2006, Pages 193-214

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2005.08.006 Get rights and content

Abstract

Purpose

This study was designed to examine how youths' perceptions of their relationships with parents and peers independently and in combination predict motivational outcomes in youth sport.

Method

Youth soccer players (N=186) completed survey measures tapping perceptions of parent–child relationship quality, friendship quality, and peer acceptance relative to the soccer context as well as soccer-related motivational outcomes (i.e. enjoyment, stress, perceived competence, and self-determined motivation).

Results

Descriptive findings showed that more positive perceptions of social relationships were associated with more positive motivational outcomes. Hierarchical regression analyses showed: (a) higher enjoyment and perceived competence were predicted by higher perceptions of two or three social relationship variables in combination, (b) lower stress was predicted by higher peer acceptance and father–child relationship quality, but not by combinations of social relationship variables, and (c) higher self-determined motivation was predicted by higher peer acceptance, father–child relationship quality, and either friendship quality or mother–child relationship quality.

Conclusion

Overall the study suggests that considering the combination of parent, peer group, and friendship relationships is critical to a full understanding of the social relationship-motivation linkage.

Section snippets

Participants

One hundred eighty six youth soccer athletes (n=99 male, n=87 female) from two states in the Midwestern US participated in the study. Participants were drawn from organized, same-sex competitive travel soccer teams (i.e. tryouts, compete in tournaments with other townships) and ranged in age from 10 to 14 years (M=11.6, SD=1.0). This age range corresponds with peak sport participation rates (see Ewing & Seefeldt, 1996) and a developmental period where peers are particularly salient to

Descriptive analyses

Descriptive statistics for the study variables are presented in Table 1. Overall, the participants reported positive relationships with parents and their best friend and felt accepted by their teammates while relationship conflict was moderate with mother and father and low with best friend. Participants also, generally, reported a positive motivational profile (high enjoyment, moderate stress, moderate perceived competence, and moderate self-determined motivation). Differences between males

Discussion

The purpose of this study was to examine how youths' perceptions of their relationships with parents and peers independently and in combination predict motivational outcomes in youth sport. The first hypothesis was that more positive perceptions of parent–child relationship quality, friendship quality, and peer acceptance would be associated with higher enjoyment, perceived competence, and self-determined motivation as well as lower stress. The findings of this study support this hypothesis, in

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: ^☆This paper is based on a master's thesis completed by Sarah Ullrich-French under the direction of Alan L. Smith. We thank Drs Thomas Berndt and Lavon Williams for their helpful feedback on our research.

View full text

Perceptions of relationships with parents and peers in youth sport: Independent and combined prediction of motivational outcomes

Abstract

Purpose

Method

Results

Conclusion

Section snippets

Participants

Descriptive analyses

Discussion

Psychology of Sport and Exercise

Multiple regression: Testing and interpreting interactions

Parental and peer influences on leisure-time physical activity in young adolescents

Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport

Parental influence on children's cognitive and affective responses to competitive soccer participation

Pediatric Exercise Science

Child development

Influences of friends and friendships on adjustment to junior high school

Merrill-Palmer Quarterly

Stability and change in childhood and adolescent friendships

Developmental Psychology

Hugs or shrugs: Parental and peer influence on continuity of involvement in sport by female adolescents

Sex Roles

Youth in sport: Psychological considerations

Parental and peer influence on children's psychosocial development through sport

Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences

A global measure of perceived stress

Journal of Health and Social Behavior

Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis

Psychological Bulletin

A prospective study of life stress, social support, and adaptation in early adolescence

Child Development

Expectancies, values and academic behaviors

Patterns of participation and attrition in American agency-sponsored youth sports

Statistical analysis in psychology and education

Parental influences on youth involvement in sports

Children's perceptions of the personal relationships in their social networks

Developmental Psychology

Age and sex differences in perceptions of networks of personal relationships

Child Development

Interactions between family environment and friendship and associations with self-perceived well-being during early adolescence

Child Development

Effectance motivation reconsidered: Toward a developmental model

Human Development

A model of intrinsic mastery motivation in children: Individual differences and developmental change

Manual for the self-perception profile for children

The development of self-representations

Early adolescent perceptions of parental pressure in the sport environment

Journal of Sport Behavior