Adolescents’ participation in sport activities and attachment to parents and peers

Keywords:
adolescents, parent attachment, peer attachment, sport participation, peer acceptance, trust, communication, alienation
Abstract

We examined the relationship between adolescents’ participation in sport activities and their parent and peer attachment, using a quantitative cross-sectional design. Adolescents (1,348; 716 girls and 632 boys) aged 12 to 16 years completed a survey assessing parent and peer attachment in terms of trust, communication, and alienation. Results showed that adolescents not participating in sport scored significantly lower than adolescent athletes on parent attachment, and that involvement in sport activities was important as a factor determining the quality of parent–adolescent relationships. Conversely, adolescents’ involvement in competitive sport had no effect on their peer attachment, which indicates that a close relationship with other sport participants does not predict greater peer attachment.

Author Biographies
  1. Saulius Sukys, Lithuanian Sports University
    Department of Health, Physical, and Social Education
  2. Ausra Lisinskiene, Lithuanian Sports University
    Department of Health, Physical, and Social Education
  3. Ilona Tilindiene, Lithuanian Sports University
    Department of Health, Physical, and Social Education
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Published
2015-06-20
Section
Articles
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