title: Predicting dropout in male youth soccer using the theory of planned behavior.
abstract: This investigation prospectively predicted dropout among young soccer players, using the theory of planned behavior (TPB). First, behavioral beliefs required to develop a TPB-questionnaire were elicited from 53 male soccer players, aged 13-15 years. Second, at the beginning of the soccer season, 354 different male soccer players aged 13-15 years completed this questionnaire, thereby assessing direct dimensions (intention, attitude, subjective norm, perceived control) and indirect dimensions (attitudinal, normative and control beliefs) derived from TPB. Nine months later--upon termination of the soccer season--these players were classified into 323 perserverers and 31 dropouts, with TPB being applied prospectively to predict these two groups. For both direct and indirect dimensions, between-group comparisons revealed significant differences in favor of the perseverers. Discriminant analyses revealed five measures (intention, attitude, subjective norm, a normative belief, and a control belief), which enabled a 22.1% a priori dropout prediction when used within a suitable equation. In conclusion, TPB may have a promising application to prospectively discriminate dropouts from perseverers, providing a potential predictive a priori classification model for sport participation.
authors.affiliation: Research Center in Physical and Sports Activities (CRAPS), University of Caen, France. nache@rocketmail.com
authors.forename: Catalin M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Nache
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bar-Eli
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perrin
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laurencelle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D001290:Attitude; D002170:Canada; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012916:Soccer; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires