The Mediating Role of Athletes' Perceptions of Social Support in the Influence of Leadership in Sports on Male Athletes' Health Awareness

Öz

This study seeks to investigate the interrelationships among leadership in sports, perceived social support, and health consciousness through the application of structural equation modeling (SEM). Data were gathered from individuals actively engaged in various sports, including football, basketball, volleyball, and athletics, and were assessed using the Leadership Behavior Scale (LSS), the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale (MSPSS), and the Health Awareness Scale (PHS). The internal consistency coefficients (Cronbach's α) for these scales were determined to be 0.79, 0.61, and 0.78, respectively. The results of the structural equation model reveal that the direct effect of leadership in sports on health consciousness is negative and significant (β = -0.161, p < .001). Nonetheless, the mediating role of perceived social support is significant (indirect effect β = 0.066, p < .001) and accounts for 29.1% of the total effect. The model's fit indices suggest that the theoretical framework is empirically substantiated. Perceived social support emerges as a crucial variable in comprehending how individuals interpret their leadership experiences and how these experiences influence their health-related cognitive awareness. These findings imply that effective leadership practices across various domains may exert indirect effects on the development of health awareness through social support mechanisms, offering significant implications, particularly for the psychosocial development of young adults.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sports management
• leadership styles
• health awareness
• perception of social support

Sporda Liderliğin Erkek Sporcuların Sağlık Bilinci Üzerindeki Etkisinde Sporcu Sosyal Destek Algısının Aracı Rolü

Öz

Bu çalışma, Sporda liderliğin, algılanan sosyal destek ve sağlık bilinci arasındaki ilişkileri yapısal eşitlik modellemesi (SEM) kullanarak incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Araştırma kapsamında çeşitli branşlarda (futbol, basketbol, voleybol ve atletizm) aktif olarak spor yapan bireylerden toplanan veriler; Liderlik Davranışları Ölçeği (LSS), Çok Boyutlu Algılanan Sosyal Destek Ölçeği (MSPSS) ve Sağlık Bilinci Ölçeği (PHS) ile değerlendirilmiştir. Ölçeklerin iç tutarlılık katsayıları (Cronbach’s α) sırasıyla 0.79, 0.61 ve 0.78 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Yapısal eşitlik modeli sonuçlarına göre, sporda liderliğin sağlık bilinci üzerindeki doğrudan etkisi negatif ve anlamlı bulunmuştur (β = -0.161, p < .001). Bununla birlikte, algılanan sosyal desteğin aracı rolü anlamlıdır (dolaylı etki β = 0.066, p < .001) ve toplam etkinin %29.1’ini açıklamaktadır. Modelin elde edilen iyi uyum değerleri, kuramsal yapının ampirik olarak desteklendiğini göstermektedir. Sosyal destek algısı, bireyin liderlik deneyimini nasıl yorumladığını ve bunun sağlıkla ilgili bilişsel farkındalığına nasıl yansıdığını anlamada kilit bir değişken olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Bu bulgular, çeşitli branşlarda etkili liderlik uygulamalarının sağlık bilinci gelişiminde sosyal destek süreçleri üzerinden dolaylı etkiler oluşturabileceğine işaret etmekte ve özellikle genç yetişkinlerin psikososyal gelişimi açısından önemli çıkarımlar sunmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Spor yönetimi
• liderlik tarzları
• sağlık bilinci
• sosyal destek algısı

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