Might 'early identity maturation' be a more inclusive concept than identity foreclosure? Identity and school alienation in adolescent student athletes and non-athletes

Autor: Olcay Kiremitci, Berkcan Boz
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Current Psychology. 42:9780-9794
ISSN: 1936-4733
1046-1310
DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02256-8
Popis: The present study examined identity development and school alienation in adolescent student athletes and non-athletes. 2422 adolescents participated in the study, comprised of student athletes (n = 1238, 51.1%) and non-athletes (n = 1184, 48.9%) considering stratified sampling method. In the data collection process, information form including demographic characteristics and sport participation parameters were used and three different scales were implemented as follows: Dimensions of Identity Development, Athletic Identity, and Student Alienation. Data analysis included independent t-test, hierarchical and k-means cluster analysis, chi-square test, and multiple regression analysis. While findings partially supported higher commitment processes with small effect sizes in student athletes, multi-dimensional results were available on different exploration dimensions. Student athletes showed higher distribution in more mature identity statuses (e.g. achievement, foreclosure) while non-athletes distributed more in less mature status (e.g. carefree diffusion, diffused diffusion). Chi-square test results showed that there was a significant difference in distribution of identity statuses with moderate effects size between student athletes and non-athletes. In addition, non-athletes showed more unfavourable tendencies in school alienation and weakness with small effect sizes. On the other hand, it was seen that commitment making was a significant predictor of school alienation in student athletes. Besides, increase in sport participation parameters of student athletes affect school alienation. As a result, identity foreclosure in student athletes are partially supported in the present study while results indicate multi-dimensionality and early identity maturation profile in student athletes. In this regard, it is suggested that single-directional evaluations and over-generalizations should be avoided while evaluating student athletes' psycho-social development.
Ege University [20583, SYL-2019-20,583]
The present study was supported and funded by Ege University Scientific Research Projects Coordination (Project ID: 20583, Project Code: SYL-2019-20,583).
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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