Motivational Climate Created by Other Significant Actors and Antisocial Behaviors in Youth Sport

The main aim of the study was to examine the relationship between youth athletes ́ perception of antisocial behavior and motivational climate as well as their opinion regarding antisocial behavior of their significant others. The participants were 1,897 young male and female athletes, ranging in age from 11 to 16 years, who played in basketball, handball, football, or volleyball teams. The results revealed that intention, judgment, and performance of antisocial behavior were negatively related to the mastery climate created by other significant actors (p<.01), and that they had a positive relationship with the performance climate created by the significant others (p<.01). Furthermore, players who perceived others’ antisocial behavior measurement as positive scored higher on intention, judgment and performance of antisocial behavior themselves (p<.01). Thus, the results demonstrated the importance of considering the influence of peers, parents and coaches when examining antisocial behaviors in youth sport.