Informant Variance in Perceptions of Student-Athlete/Parent Relationship Qualities
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education
Publisher
Routledge
Publication Date
6-15-2021
First Page
1
Last Page
12
Abstract
A positive relationship with parents contributes to well-being during emerging adulthood, the developmental period that bridges adolescence and adulthood (Arnett, J. J. [2015]. Emerging adulthood: The winding road from the late teens through the twenties [2nd ed.]. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199795574.013.9). In this study, we investigated discrepancies between parent and emerging adult perceptions of relationship qualities within the context of intercollegiate sport. Parent and student-athlete reports of parental contact, parental support, academic engagement, and basic need satisfaction were compared to determine whether agreement existed. Results examining 50 parent/student-athlete dyads from a Division I institution completed online measures of relationship qualities. Results revealed minimal agreement across all measures (κ = −.10 to .12). Parents reported significantly higher levels of basic need satisfaction and academic engagement while student-athletes reported significantly higher levels of tangible parental support, providing evidence of the importance of the choice of informant when assessing parent/student-athlete relationships. These findings build a foundation for future work on how reporter differences are linked to student-athlete outcomes.
Recommended Citation
Kaye, M. P., Lowe, K., &Dorsch, T. E. ( 2021). Informant variance in perceptions of student-athlete/parent relationship qualities. Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education. Advance Online Edition.