Influence of caring youth sport contexts on efficacy-related beliefs and social behaviors.

Abstract

Understanding what factors influence positive youth development has been advocated by youth development researchers (P. L. Benson, 2006; J. S. Eccles & J. A. Gootman, 2002). Consequently, the purpose of this study was to examine whether perceptions of a caring youth sport context influenced prosocial and antisocial behavior through efficacy-related beliefs, that is, positive and negative affective self-regulatory efficacy (ASRE) and empathic self-efficacy (ESE). Multiethnic youths taking part in summer sport programs (N = 395) completed a questionnaire that measured perceptions of the caring climate, ESE, ASRE, and social behavior. Structural equation modeling was used to test whether ASRE and ESE mediated the relationship between caring and social behaviors. Findings revealed that perceptions of caring positively predicted ASRE and ESE. In turn, positive ASRE positively predicted ESE. Prosocial behaviors were positively linked to ESE, whereas antisocial behaviors were negatively predicted by positive ASRE. The results suggest that caring influences prosocial and antisocial behavior because such contexts develop youths' ability to monitor, manage, and control positive affect, which in turn enhances their belief in their ability to empathize.

Psychometric Support for the Ownership in Exercise and Empowerment in Exercise Scales

“…Fostering a respectful, fair, safe, welcoming, and comfortable environment may enhance leaders' opportunities to understand and accept participants for who they are . Gano-Overway et al (2009) found that individuals' perceptions of a caring climate had a positive effect on their pro-social behavior and empathetic abilities, which decreased their antisocial behavior, as well. Additionally, when exercise participants perceived the climate to be both highly caring and task-involving, they reported significantly increased effort, enjoyment, and expected future participation Gano-Overway et al, 2009).…”

“…In a task-involving climate participants' effort and improvement are recognized, every individual plays an important role, and cooperation is fostered (Newton et al, 2000). When participants perceive a task-involving climate to be emphasized, they have consistently reported more positive outcomes, such as significantly more enjoyment, effort, positive relationships with teammates/coaches, and increased interest in future participation (Duda & Nicholls, 1992;Gano-Overway et al, 2005;Gano-Overway et al, 2009;Seifriz, Duda, & Chi, 1992;Walling, Duda, & Chi, 1993). In contrast, in an ego-involving climate individuals' ability and improvement are judged against normative standards and peer comparison, leaders employ greater use of punishment for mistakes or poor performance, and leaders consistently give more attention and praise to the few with the highest ability (Newton et al, 2000).…”

“…In contrast, in an ego-involving climate individuals' ability and improvement are judged against normative standards and peer comparison, leaders employ greater use of punishment for mistakes or poor performance, and leaders consistently give more attention and praise to the few with the highest ability (Newton et al, 2000). When participants perceive these ego-involving climate components to be emphasized they also report more negative outcomes, such as decreased enjoyment, team satisfaction, sportpersonship, and self-esteem; and increased performance-related tension/worry (Duda et al, 1995;Duda & Nicholls, 1992;Gano-Overway et al, 2005;Gano-Overway et al, 2009;Seifriz et al, 1992;Walling et al, 1993). The relationships of the task-and ego-involving climates to these outcome variables have been reported consistently across academic, sport, and exercise domains.…”

“…Recent research has focused on the additional positive benefits that occur when a motivational climate is perceived as caring (Gano-Overway et al, 2009;. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of two newly developed quantitative measures: the Ownership in Exercise Scale (OES) and Empowerment in Exercise Scale (EES).…”

Psychometric Properties of the Abbreviated Perceived Motivational Climate in Exercise Questionnaire

“…Participants responded to the items with a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The CCS has consistently demonstrated strong measurement reliability, .92 to .96, and been associated with concurrent validity constructs in theory-hypothesized directions and magnitudes (Gano-Overway et al, 2009;Newton et al, 2007). For example, Newton et al (2007) found the caring climate to have a moderate, positive correlation with the task-involving climate (r = .56) and a moderately small, negative correlation with the ego-involving climate (r = -.36).…”