title: The link between competitive sport participation and self-concept in early adolescence: a consideration of gender and sport orientation.
abstract: The current study explored specific aspects of sports and individuals on 4 domains of the self-system (physical competence and physical appearance self-concept, global physical and general self-esteem). Participants were 351 adolescents (M (age) = 13.45, SD = 1.25 years, males n = 132) recruited from elite sports and regular school classrooms. Participants were separated into groups based on sports participation (elite athletes, n = 171, competitive athletes, n = 71; and non-athletes, n = 145). The intensity of the activity (strenuous, moderate, and mild), the level of athleticism (competitive, elite, non-athlete), gender, and sport orientation (win, goal, competitive) were examined. The level of athleticism (elite, competitive, and non-athlete) was found to be positively related to physical competence and appearance self-concept as well as global physical and general self-esteem. Analyses revealed a significant difference between the non-athletes and both the competitive and elite groups (with a difference between the latter two for physical competence only). Sport orientation was found to moderate the relation between athleticism and general self-esteem; non-athletes who had a greater win orientation or lower competitive orientation were also lower in self-esteem. Thus, the fit between the level of competition and self-concept may depend on characteristics of the individual such as her/her sport orientation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada. lfindlay@connect.carleton.ca
authors.forename: Leanne C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Findlay
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bowker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012916:Soccer / Q000523:psychology; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*