Perceived Social Support and Devotion to Sport: A Psychosocial Assessment of Athletes

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between perceived levels of social support and devotion to sport among athletes.

Method: Conducted using a correlational survey model within the scope of quantitative research methods, the study group consisted of 340 athletes (150 female and 190 male from different sport branches), meeting the sufficient sample size determined by G*Power analysis. Data were collected using the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale and the Sport Devotion Scale. During the analysis process, in addition to normality and descriptive statistics, independent groups tests, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed using SPSS 25. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied using the AMOS 24 program to validate the factor structure of the scales.

Results: The study found no statistically significant difference in perceived social support and its sub-dimensions based on gender. However, male athletes had statistically significantly higher means than female athletes in terms of sport devotion (Male: 44.42±7.16; Female: 42.74±7.84). Statistically significant positive relationships were determined between the perceived social support sub-dimensions of a special person, family, and friends, and devotion to sport. Additionally, it was found that an increase in perceived social support would lead to an increase in devotion to sport, with perceived social support explaining 12.7% of the variance (R² = .127) in devotion to sport, indicating a statistically significant but limited level of explanatory power.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that perceived social support is a strong predictor of devotion to sport among athletes. The findings suggest that strengthening sources of social support within the sporting environment plays a crucial role in maintaining athletes' devotion to the sport. In this regard, the supportive attitudes of coaches, families, and teammates can increase athletes' long-term participation in sport.

Keywords

• Perceived Social Support
• Sport Devotion
• Performance Continuity
• Psychosocial Factors

Supporting Institution

This research received no external funding.

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University Health and Sports Sciences Ethics Committee (Date: November 26, 2025; No: E-88012460-050.04-502572). All procedures were conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration, and informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Algılanan Sosyal Destek ve Spora Adanmışlık: Sporcular Üzerinde Psikososyal Bir Değerlendirme

Abstract

Amaç: Bu araştırmanın amacı, sporcularda algılanan sosyal destek düzeyleri ile spora adanmışlıkları arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektir

Yöntem: Araştırma, nicel araştırma yöntemlerinden ilişkisel tarama modeli kullanılarak yürütülmüştür. Çalışma grubunu, G*Power analizi ile belirlenen yeterli örneklem büyüklüğünü karşılayan farklı spor branşlarından 150 kadın ve 190 erkek olmak üzere toplam 340 lisanslı sporcu oluşturmuştur. Veriler, Çok Boyutlu Algılanan Sosyal Destek Ölçeği ve Spora Adanmışlık Ölçeği kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Analizlerde SPSS 25 programı ile normallik ve betimsel istatistiklerin yanı sıra bağımsız gruplar t-testi, Pearson korelasyon analizi ve çoklu doğrusal regresyon analizi yapılmıştır. Ölçeklerin faktör yapısını doğrulamak amacıyla AMOS 24 programı ile doğrulayıcı faktör analizi (DFA) uygulanmıştır.

Bulgular: Araştırma bulgularına göre algılanan sosyal destek ve alt boyutlarında cinsiyete göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark bulunmamıştır. Ancak spora adanmışlık düzeyinde erkek sporcuların kadın sporculara göre anlamlı düzeyde daha yüksek ortalamalara sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir (Erkek: 44.42±7.16; Kadın: 42.74±7.84). Algılanan sosyal destek alt boyutları (özel bir insan, aile ve arkadaş) ile spora adanmışlık arasında pozitif ve anlamlı ilişkiler tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca algılanan sosyal desteğin artmasının spora adanmışlığı artırdığı ve bu değişkenin spora adanmışlıktaki varyansın %12.7’sini açıkladığı (R²=.127) belirlenmiştir.

Sonuç: Bu çalışma, algılanan sosyal desteğin sporcuların spora adanmışlığının anlamlı ancak sınırlı düzeyde güçlü bir yordayıcısı olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Elde edilen bulgular, spor ortamında sosyal destek kaynaklarının güçlendirilmesinin sporcuların spora bağlılıklarını sürdürmede kritik bir rol oynadığını göstermektedir. Bu doğrultuda antrenör, aile ve takım arkadaşlarının destekleyici tutumlarının sporcuların uzun vadeli spor katılımını artırabileceği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.

Keywords

• Algılanan Sosyal Destek
• Spora Adanmışlık
• Performans Devamlılığı
• Psikososyal Faktörler

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