The Association Between Sports Character and Mental Well-Being

Abstract

This research was executed in order to reveal the relationship between the sportive character and mental well-being of students studying in sports sciences. The research was developed in compliance with the correlation survey and causal comparative models. The obtained data were reached by convenience sampling method. Participants consist of 299 athlete students (n = 100 female; n = 199 male), studying at Artvin Çoruh University, Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University, and Kütahya Dumlupınar University. The "Sports Character Scale", which was adapted into Turkish, and the "Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale", which was developed to evaluate the well-being of athletes, were used to gather data in the study. In the analysis of the data, first and foremost, the link between the character of the athlete and mental well-being was examined by network analysis. In addition, multiple regression analyses were conducted to ascertain the predictive role of sports character on mental well-being. At the conclusion of the analysis of the data, integrity and sportspersonship significantly predicted mental well-being positively and antisocial attitude negatively. These variables explain approximately 24% of the total variance of mental well-being. On the other hand, compassion and fairness included in the regression were not predicted significantly. In general terms, it can be stated that sports character is an important component of mental well-being. In future research, the explanation of the irrelevant results in the link between sports character and mental well-being should be examined thoroughly.

Keywords

• Antisocial Attitude
• Integrity
• Mental Well-Being
• Sports Character
• Sportspersonship

References

1. Abad, D. (2010). Sportsmanship. Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, 4(1), 27-41. https://doi.org/10.1080/17511320903365227
2. Arnold, P. (1999). The virtues, moral education, and the practice of sport. Quest, 51 (1), 39-54. https://doi.org/10.1080/17449642.2022.2111485
3. Bredemeier, B. L., & Shields, D. L. (2006). Sports and Character Development. Journal of physical activity & health, 3(2), 255–256. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.3.2.255
4. Brenner, J. S., LaBotz, M., Sugimoto, D., & Stracciolini, A. (2019). The Psychosocial Implications of Sport Specialization in Pediatric Athletes. Journal of athletic training, 54(10), 1021–1029. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-394-18
5. Cates, A., Stranges, S., Blake, A., & Weich, S. (2015). Mental well-being: an important outcome for mental health services?. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 207, 195-197. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.114.158329
6. Cevizci, A. (2003). Felsefe Terimleri Sözlüğü. İstanbul: Paradigma Yayınları.
7. Conversano, C., Rotondo, A., Lensi, E., Della Vista, O., Arpone, F., & Reda, M. A. (2010). Optimism and its impact on mental and physical well-being. Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health, 6, 25-29. https://doi.org/10.2174/1745017901006010025
8. Cramer, S. R., Nieman, D. C., & Lee, J. W. (1991). The effects of moderate exercise training on psychological wellbeing and mood state in women. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 35(4): 437-449. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(91)90039-Q

9. Diener, E. (2000). Subjective well-being: The science of happiness and a proposal for a national index. American Psychologist, 55(1), 34-43. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.34
10. Ekici, H. (2013). Demografik özelliklere göre türkiye’de sporda şike algisi ve gaziantep ili örneği. MANAS Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, 2 (3), 1-26. https://www.dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/mjss/issue/40483/484939
11. Görgüt, İ., & Tuncel, S. (2017). Spor karakter ölçeğinin Türkçeye uyarlanması. SPORMETRE Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi , 15 (3) , 149-156 . https://doi.org/10.1501/Sporm_0000000319
12. Hoffman, M. L. (2000). Empathy and moral development: implications for caring and justice. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
13. İmamlı, H., & Ünver, G. (2018). Spor Karakterinin Demografik Nitelikler Açısından İncelenmesi. Akdeniz Spor Bilimleri Dergisi,1(1) 36-49. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/asbid/issue/40817/470382
14. Jakubowski, J. K. (2013). Making character education a reality: an investigation of secondary teachers’ perspectives toward implementation. Doctorate, Arizona State University, USA. https://www.proquest.com/openview/84edea3fe8e3f0d4f2e7fd2620389369/1.pdf?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750
15. Jang, C. (2013). Development and validation of the Sport Character Scale (Order No. 3561797). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (1366428830). https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/development-validation-sport-character-scale/docview/1366428830/se-2
16. Josephine Institute Center for Sports Ethics. (2006). Survey of high school athletes 2006: Are coaches teaching our young athletes the right way to play? CA: JICSE. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267393056_The_Strategies_for_Character_Building_through_Sports_Participation
17. Kavussanu, M. (2006). Motivational predictors of prosocial and antisocial behaviour in football. Journal of Sports Sciences, 24(6), 575–588. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410500190825
18. Kavussanu, M., & Boardley, I. D. (2009). The Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior in Sport Scale. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 31(1), 97–117. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.31.1.97
19. Kavussanu, M., & Roberts, G. C. (2001). Moral Functioning in Sport: An Achievement Goal Perspective, Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 23(1), 37-54. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.23.1.37
20. Kavussanu, M., Seal, A. R., & Phillips, D. R. (2006). Observed prosocial and antisocial behaviors in male soccer teams: Age differences across adolescence and the role of motivational variables. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 18(4), 326-344. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200600944108
21. Keldal, G. (2015). Warwick-Edinburgh Mental İyi Oluş Ölçeği’nin Türkçe formu: Geçerlilik ve güvenilirlilik çalışması. The Journal of Happiness & Well-Being, 3(1), 103-115. https://tr-scales.arabpsychology.com/wp-content/uploads/pdf/warwick-edinburgh-mental-iyi-olus-olcegi-toad.pdf
22. Keyes, C. L. M. (2002). The mental health continuum: From languishing to flourishing in life. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 43(2), 207–222. https://doi.org/10.2307/3090197
23. Keyes, C. L. M., Shmotkin, D., & Ryff, C. D. (2002). Optimizing well-being: The empirical encounter of two traditions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(6), 1007–1022. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.82.6.1007
24. Kleiber, D. A., & Roberts, G. G. (1981). The Effects of Sport Experience in the Development of Social Character: An Exploratory Investigation. Journal of Sport Psychology, 3, 114–122. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsp.3.2.114
25. Lemyre, P.-N., Roberts, G. C., & Ommundsen, Y. (2002). Achievement goal orientations, perceived ability, and sportspersonship in youth soccer. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 14(2), 120–136. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200252907789
26. Lubans, D., Richards, J., Hillman, C., Faulkner, G., Beauchamp, M., Nilsson, M., Kelly, P., Smith, J., Raine, L., & Biddle, S. (2016). Physical Activity for Cognitive and Mental Health in Youth: A Systematic Review of Mechanisms. Pediatrics, 138(3), e20161642. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1642
27. Makikangas, A., & Kinnunen, U. (2003). Psychosocial work stressors and well-being: Self-esteem and optimism as moderators in a one-year longitudinal sample. Personality and Individual Differences, 35(3), 537–557. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(02)00217-9
28. Martens, M. (2013). Alcohol and substance use, in P. Miller (ed). Principles of Addiction, Comprehensive Addictive Behaviors and Disorders, San Diego: Elsevier; 575-583.
29. Martens, R. (1982). Kid sports: A den of iniquity or land of promise. In R. A. Magill, M. J. Ash, & F. L. Smoll (Eds.), Children in sport (pp. 204–216). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers.
30. Mathner, R. P., Martin, C. L., Tatum, S. A., & Chouti, D. (2010). The Effects of a Sportsmanship Educational Program on The Behavior of College İntramural Sports Participants. Recreational Sports Journal, 34(2), 119-128. https://doi.org/10.1123/rsj.34.2.119
31. Méndez-Giménez, A., Fernández-Río, J., & Méndez-Alonso, D. (2015). Sport Education Model Versus Traditional Model: Effects on Motivation and Sportsmanship. Revista Internacional de Medicinay Ciencias de la Actividad Fisica y del Deporte, 15(59): 449–466. https://doi.org/10.15366/rimcafd2015.59.004
32. Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. American Psychological Association; Oxford University Press.
33. Ryff, C. D. (1995). Psychological well-being in adult life. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 4(4), 99–104. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.ep10772395
34. Ryff, C. D., & Singer, B. H. (2008). Know thyself and become what you are: A eudaimonic approach to psychological well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies: An Interdisciplinary Forum on Subjective Well-Being, 9(1), 13–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-006-9019-0
35. Sage, L., & Kavussanu, M. (2007). The effects of goal involvement on moral behavior in an experimentally manipulated competitive setting. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 29(2), 190–207. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.29.2.190
36. Shanafelt, T. D., West, C., Zhao, X., Novotny, P., Kolars, J., Habermann, T., & Sloan, J. (2005). Relationship between increased personal well-being and enhanced empathy among internal medicine residents. Journal of general internal medicine, 20(7), 559–564. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2005.0108.x
37. Shields, D. L. L., & Bredemeier, B. J. L. (1995). Character development and physical activity. Human Kinetics Publishers.
38. Shields, D. L. & Bredemeier, B. L. (2001). Moral development and behaviour in sport. In R. N. Singer et al., (Eds.), Handbook of Sports Psychology, 2nd ed. New York: Wiley & Sons.
39. Stoll, S. K., & Beller, J. M. (2000). Do sports build character? In J. R. Gerdy, Sports in School: The Future of an Institution. New York Teachers College Press
40. Szabo, A. (2003). The acute effects of humor and exercise on mood and anxiety. Journal of leisure research, 35(2), 152-162. https://www.nrpa.org/globalassets/journals/jlr/2003/volume-35/jlr-volume-35-number-2-pp-152-162.pdf
41. Tarakçıoğlu, S.,& Doğan, B. (2013). Spor Etiği Bağlaminda Gen Dopingi. Spor Bilimleri Dergisi: Hacettepe Üniversitesi, 24(1), 45-54. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/sbd/issue/16372/171324
42. Tazegül, Ü. (2014). Sporun kişilik üzerindeki etkisinin araştırılması. The Journal of Academic Social Science Studies. 25-I: 537-544. http://dx.doi.org/10.9761/JASSS2352
43. Tennant, R., Hiller, L., Fishwick, R., Platt, S., Joseph, S., Weich, S., Parkinson, J., Secker, J., & Stewart-Brown, S. (2007). The Warwick-Edinburgh mental well-being scale (WEMWBS): Development and UK validation. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 5(1), 50-63. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-5-63
44. Türk Dil Kurumu: Sözlük. Türk Dil Kurumu Sözlükleri. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2022, from https://sozluk.gov.tr/
45. Türksoy-Işım, A., Güvendi, B., & Toros, T. (2019). Amatör lig futbolcularında sporda ahlaktan uzaklaşma, güdüsel iklim ve karar verme. International Journal of Social Sciences and Education Research, 5 (1), 54-62 . https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/ijsser/issue/42293/483295
46. World Health Organization. (‎2004)‎. Promoting mental health: concepts, emerging evidence, practice: summary report / a report from the World Health Organization, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse in collaboration with the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation and the University of Melbourne. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/42940
47. Solmaz, Y. D., & Bayrak, C. (2016). Beden eğitimi dersindeki fiziksel etkinlik oyunlarının ilköğretim öğrencilerinin karakter gelişimleri üzerindeki etkisi. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi (H. U. Journal of Education), 31(4), 644-656. http://www.efdergi.hacettepe.edu.tr/yonetim/icerik/makaleler/1780-published.pdf