The relationships between perceived parental pressure and the levels of self esteem and competitive anxiety in age-group swimmers

Abstract

Thirty age-group swimmers attending Ball State University summer swim camps in July, were selected randomly from 78 informed consent letters. Three boys and three girls in each age group (9-13 years) completed a three part questionnnaire. The first part of the questionnaire was the Sport Competition Anxiety Test. The second part was the Analysis of Significant Adult Influences. The final part was the Self Esteem Questionnaire. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived parental pressure and the levels of self esteem and competitive anxiety. After data was collected, Pearson Product-Moment Correlations were completed. It was determined that there is no significant relationship between parental pressure and either of the other two variables. One of the problems with this study is that it utilized a small sample from one camp in one region of the country. It is suggested that further research in the area of youth sport and parental influence be done with a larger, and more varied sample of young athletes.