The moderating effects of social support to student-athletes' athletic identity and psychological well-being

• Main Author: Blando, Mark Kristian V.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2023
• Subjects: College athletes—Psychology; Sports—Psychological aspect; Clinical Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdm_psych/55; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etdm_psych/article/1049/viewcontent/2023_Blando_The_Moderating_Effects_of_Social_Support_to_Student_Athletes_Full_text.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Several studies have linked this pandemic to an increase in psychological problems among student-athletes and a loss of athletic identity due to the sudden cessation of sports and events. However, now that we are gradually returning to old normalcy and sporting events, primarily those initiated by the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, are no longer restricted, the researcher seeks to know if student-athletes' athletic identity and psychological well-being are still a concern. Furthermore, this study attempted to examine whether athletic identity differs by gender and sport type, as well as whether athletic identity significantly predicts psychological well-being and whether social support moderates their relationship. A total of 155 university student-athletes were studied. Results showed that these student-athletes have high athletic identity (AI), moderate social support (SS), and psychological well-being (PWB) levels. Results revealed that athletic identity (AI) is positively related to social support (SS) but does not have a significant correlation with and does not predict psychological well-being (PWB). In contrast, SS is both correlated with AI and PWB and directly predicts PWB. Furthermore, moderation analysis shows that SS does not moderate the relationship between AI and PWB. The implications of these results underscore the multifaceted nature of student-athlete well-being, urging researchers and practitioners to consider the intricate interconnections between athletic identity, social support, and psychological well-being. Additionally, the study emphasizes the necessity for tailored interventions and support systems that acknowledge the unique challenges faced by student-athletes, particularly in navigating the intricate relationship between their athletic identity and overall psychological well-being. Keywords: Athletic Identity – Psychological Well-being – Social Support