Optimism and perfectionism in relation to perceived parenting styles among secondary-school football players

Abstract

Optimizam i perfekcionizam se u velikoj mjeri razvijaju u adolescenciji, a pritom važan utjecaj imaju upravo roditelji. Roditeljski utjecaj je posebno važan kod adolescenata koji se bave timskim sportom, poput nogometa, zbog prednosti i izazova koje sport donosi. Stoga je cilj ovog rada bio istražiti postoje li razlike u izraženosti optimizma (pesimizma) i perfekcionizma u odnosu na percipirani stil roditeljstva kod srednjoškolskih nogometaša. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 229 nogometaša u dobi od 15 do 18 godina koji su članovi nogometnih klubova na području Zagreba i okolice. Sudionici su ispunili: Ljestvicu pozitivnog i negativnog perfekcionizma, Revidirani test životne orijentacije te Upitnik percipiranih stilova roditeljstva. Istraživanje je provedeno neposredno prije ili poslije treninga u prostorijama klubova. Rezultati su pokazali da više razine pozitivnog perfekcionizma iskazuju nogometaši koji percipiraju roditeljski stil svojih majki kao autoritativan. Nije utvrđena statistički značajna razlika u izraženosti pesimizma i negativnog perfekcionizma u odnosu na percipirani stil roditeljstva majke i oca. Utvrđena je značajna pozitivna povezanost pesimizma i pozitivnog perfekcionizma te negativna povezanost pesimizma i negativnog perfekcionizma. U skladu s nalazima prijašnjih istraživanjima pokazao se samo onaj prema kojem više razine pozitivnog perfekcionizma imaju nogometaši autoritativnih majki. Iz navedenog razloga potrebno je uzeti u obzir moguća objašnjenja ovakvih nalaza kao i ograničenja istraživanja.Optimism and perfekcionism are highly under the influence of parents, especially in adolescence. Parent' s influence is also important among adolescents who are engaged in team sports, such as soccer, due to advantages and challenges that sport includes. Therefore the aim of this study was to examine the differences between youth football player' s level of optimism (pessimism) and perfectionism according to their perceived parenting styles. The sample included 229 football players aged 15 to 18 years, who are members of football clubs located in the area near Zagreb. Participants fulfilled: Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale, Life Orientation Test-Revised and Perceived Parenting Styles Survey. The results showed higher levels of positive perfectionism among players who perceive their mother's parenting style as authoritative. Difference between levels of pessimism and negative perfectionism according to perceived parenting styles of both parents was not significant. Significant positive correlation was found between pessimism and positive perfectionism, and significant negative correlation between pessimism and negative perfectionism. The only finding from this research that was in line with the previous research findings, was the one according to which high levels of positive perfectionism have players of authoritative mothers. Accordingly, it is necessary to explore possible explanations for such findings as well as limitations of this research