NCJ Number
223231
Journal
Journal of Adolescence Volume: 31 Issue: 3 Dated: June 2008 Pages: 371-387
Date Published
June 2008
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this study was to investigate to what extent team membership predicted on- and off-field antisocial and prosocial behavior in adolescent soccer athletes.
Abstract
The study revealed that 21 percent of the variance in off-field antisocial behavior and 8 percent and 14 percent variance in on-field antisocial and prosocial behavior respectively, could be attributed to differences among the teams and among their coaches. These differences were characterized by relational support provided by the coach, attitude toward fair play, and socio-moral reasoning about sports dilemmas. The study identified team-related factors that, if strengthened, might enhance the positive contribution of sports participation to social functioning in adolescent athletes, such as the coach exerting a positive influence. Compared to family and school, the context of organized leisure activities has received minimal attention with respect to its socializing potential and its influence on adolescent development. This study focused on youth soccer as it is the sport with the highest participation rate among adolescents in Europe. In addition, it is a contact sport that is performed between teams, which means that on the one hand there is a greater risk for on-field instrumental and hostile aggression, and on the other hand sports-related rules exist to prevent on-field antisocial behavior. This study investigated to what extent team membership predicted on- and off-field antisocial and prosocial behavior in (pre)adolescent athletes. Antisocial behavior was expected to be negatively associated with the quality of the relationship with the coach, coaches’ and athletes’ fair play attitude, moral reasoning about sports-related dilemmas, and the socio-moral climate, whereas prosocial behavior was expected to be positively associated with these factors. Tables, references