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Predictors of Antisocial and Prosocial Behavior in an Adolescent Sports Context
Author(s) -
Rutten Esther A.,
Schuengel Carlo,
Dirks Evelien,
Stams Geert Jan J. M.,
Biesta Gert J. J.,
Hoeksma Jan B.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
social development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.078
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1467-9507
pISSN - 0961-205X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9507.2010.00598.x
Subject(s) - prosocial behavior , psychology , context (archaeology) , athletes , developmental psychology , social environment , social psychology , medicine , paleontology , political science , law , biology , physical therapy
Abstract This study examined antisocial and prosocial behavior of N = 439 adolescent athletes between 14 and 17 years of age (67 teams). Multi‐level analyses showed that team membership explained 20 and 13 percent of the variance in antisocial and prosocial behavior in the sports context, respectively. The team effects suggest that aggregating antisocial or prosocial adolescents within teams may partially explain differences in antisocial and prosocial behavior among athletes in the sports context. A trend was found toward a relation between higher levels of moral reasoning within teams, and less antisocial behavior in the sports context. Favorable moral atmosphere was positively associated with more prosocial behavior in the sports context. Finally, supportive coach–athlete relationships were associated with both less antisocial and more prosocial behavior in the sports context.