Sport Identity and Motivation for Sport Participation: A Comparison Between American College Athletes and Austrian Student Sport Club Members
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compare competition, fitness, and social motivation for sport participation between American college athletes and Austrian student sport club members and conclude that sport motivation is likely to be influenced by the values of the sport organ.
Abstract: The aim of this study is to compare competition, fitness, and social motivation for sport participation between American college athletes and Austrian student sport club members. Our hypotheses are drawn from symbolic interactionist theory, and we define sport motivation as the reasons that people give for participating in sport. The respondents are 301 University of Vienna student members of Austrian sport clubs and 397 college athletes drawn from three schools in Ohio. The results indicate (a) statistically significant main effects for ANOVA comparisons between competition and fitness motivation and the factors of gender and country, (b) a statistically significant two-way interaction between social motivation and gender and country, and (c) statistically significant Pearson product moment correlations between competition and fitness motives and the involvement of self in the sport role. Thus, we conclude that motivation for sport participation is likely to be influenced by the values of the sport organ...
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TL;DR: In this article, a profeminist perspective was employed to study male bonding in the locker rooms of two “big time” college sport teams, and the analysis indicated that fraternal bonding was strongly affected by competition.
Abstract: A profeminist perspective was employed to study male bonding in the locker rooms of two “big time” college sport teams. Locker room talk fragments were collected over the course of several months by a participant observer, a senior varsity athlete, and by a nonparticipant observer, a sport sociologist. Additional data were collected by means of field observations, intensive interviews, and life histories and were combined to interpret locker room interaction. The analysis indicated that fraternal bonding was strongly affected by competition. While competition provided an activity bond to other men that was rewarding and status enhancing, it also generated anxiety and other strong emotions that the athletes sought to control or channel. Moreover, peer group dynamics encouraged antisocial talk and behavior, much of which was directed at the athletes themselves. To avoid being targeted for jibes and put-downs, the men engaged in conversations that affirmed a traditional masculinity. As a result their locker ...
295 citations
Cites background from "Sport Identity and Motivation for S..."
...Competition, Emotional Control, and Bonding A variety of studies have indicated that male athletes are likely to incorporate competitive motivation as part of their sport identity (e.g., Curry & Weiss, 1989)....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the attitude-exercise behavior relationship according to the theory of planned behavior and found that the planned behavior model was slightly more successful in predicting exercise behavior when attitude strength and role identity were added to the analysis.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the attitude–exercise behavior relationship according to the theory of planned behavior. Two additional variables, multicomponent attitude strength and role identity, were constructed to expand the initial model. The participation of 395 females in physical fitness programs over a 2-month period served as a behavioral criterion. Attitudes toward behavior, perceived behavioral control, role identity, and attitude strength predicted intention to exercise. Also, exercise behavior was predicted from intention, perceived behavioral control, role identity, and attitude strength. Perceived behavioral control was a more accurate predictor of behavior than of intention. Results also showed that the planned behavior model was slightly more successful in predicting exercise behavior when attitude strength and role identity were added to the analysis. Findings are discussed in terms of theoretical and practical implications and in terms of the role of intention, perceived behavior...
209 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the psychometric properties of the AIMS and found that the data fit the 4-factor model specified in the Martin et al. (1994) study.
Abstract: Individuals who perceive themselves as “athletes” are thought to have self-schemas composed of, in part, an athletic identity (Brewer, Van Raalte, & Linder, 1993). The recent development of the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) has allowed sport psychology researchers to assess athletic identity. Research with adolescent athletes with disabilities has suggested that the AIMS is composed of 4 factors (Martin, Mushett, & Eklund, 1994). The purpose of the current study was to further examine the psychometric properties of the AIMS. Seventy-eight international swimmers (34 females, 44 males) with disabilities, ranging in age from 12 to 44 (M = 23.4 years), participated in the present study. Using structural equation modeling procedures, a confirmatory factor analysis determined that the data fit the 4-factor model specified in the Martin et al. (1994) study, thus providing support for the multidimensionality of the AIMS.
123 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined perceived athletic identity, sport commitment, and the effect of sport participation to identify the impact of athletic participation on college students, and found that participants placed their athletic role highly and moderately agreed with the researchers' proposed core benefits of sport involvement.
Abstract: This study examined perceived athletic identity, sport commitment, and the effect of sport participation to identify the impact of athletic participation on college students. This study surveyed 163 student-athletes (59%) and 112 non-athlete students (41%) from a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division-I affiliated institution (males = 172, 62.5%; females = 103, 37.5%). The survey questionnaire was developed and modified from four well-established instruments, the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale, the Sport Commitment Model, the Life Roles Inventory-Values Scales, and Athletic Involvement on the Social Life. The data collection process was initiated and completed in the 2008 spring semester. Seven sub-factors: Personal Role, Importance of Sport, Personal Attributes, Expectation of Others, Core Benefits, Social Relationship and Special Behaviors, were identified through a series of factor analyses. The participants placed their athletic role highly and moderately agreed with the researchers’ proposed core benefits of athletic participation. Overall, the findings supported past research in regards to gender and year in college difference, influence in perceived athletic identity due to sport specificity, and benefits of sport involvement. Variation in participants’ responses based on different demographic characteristics, suggestions for improving current supportive programs, and direction for future studies are further discussed.
116 citations
Cites background or result from "Sport Identity and Motivation for S..."
...This supports the results reported by Curry & Weiss (1989), Millert & Kerr, (2003), Miller et al. (2005), Wiechan & William (1997)....
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...Their athletic identity is also likely to be influenced by the values of the sport organization, as well as the sport and gender identities of the participant (Curry & Weiss, 1989)....
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TL;DR: The role adoption mechanism in sport is a constituent of identity reinforcement or social recognition in sport as mentioned in this paper, and it enables actors to realize and confirm their identities, which can occur because sport is...
Abstract: The mechanism of role adoption is a constituent of identity reinforcement or social recognition in sport. It enables actors to realize and confirm their identities. This can occur because sport is ...
84 citations