The Influence of Reflected Appraisals on Middle School and High School Athletes’ Self-Perceptions of Sport Competence

Abstract

This study examined the reflected appraisal process in female middle school (n = 66; M age = 12.39 – .87 years) and high school athletes (n = 88; M age = 14.70 – 1.08 years). Questionnaires assessed the athletes’ self-perceptions of sport competence and how they perceived their mothers, fathers, coaches, and teammates evaluated their ability in sport. A multiple regression analysis revealed that the various reflected appraisals predicted self-perceptions of competence (p < .01, R2 = .65). Mothers (β = .19), coaches (β = .24), and teammates (β = .47) were each significant predictors, while the reflected appraisal of fathers (β = .08) was non-significant. Squared semi-partial correlations indicated that teammates accounted the greatest amount of unique (sr2 = .25), followed by coaches (sr2 = .08), mothers (sr2 = .05), and fathers (sr2 = .01). Structural equation modeling indicated that the pattern of relationships was the same for middle school and high school athletes.