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Document Type

Poster Presentation

Abstract

One of the most popular activities among adolescents is participating in organized athletic activities inside and outside of school (Roberts, 2001). Individuals perceive the purpose and meaning of these activities differently and thus may have different goal orientations (Roberts, 2001). Participation in sports allows adolescents to engage in social comparison processes and this is an important source of information about their relative competence and standing among their peers (Roberts & Treasure, 1992). Several studies have linked athletic identity to positive self-perceptions such as stable self-concept, extroversion, global self-worth, and social interactions (Roberts & Treasure, 1992; Ryska, 2002; Stryer, Tofler & Lapchick, 1998). At the same time research has shown that "stereotype threat," an individual's awareness that she may be judged by or may self-fulfill negative stereotypes about her gender, can have a dramatic effect on the types of sports she chooses to participate in and on her performance (Lips, 2001).

The purpose of this study was to look at competence levels of high school athletes and nonathletes and to study the motivational factors affecting the athletes. We studied the perceived competence levels of high school athletes and non-athletes, specifically in the areas of social acceptance, academics, physical appearance, and global self-worth. We were interested in what motivated these adolescents to participate in organized athletics, as well as looking at the possible differences between the self-reported motivational factors of males and females and of those athletes participating in individual vs. team sports.

Publication Date

2003

Journal Title

Conference Proceedings: Undergraduate Social Science Research Conference

Volume

7

Issue

1

First Page

217

Last Page

220

Copyright

©2003 by the University of Northern Iowa

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Publisher

University of Northern Iowa

City

Cedar Falls, IA

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