Skip to main content
Log in

The mediating role of parental support: The relation between sports participation, self-esteem, and motivation for sports among chinese students

  • Published:
Current Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine Chinese students’ motivation for sports participation using the theory of social learning. We examined the role of parental support as a mediator of the relationship between motivation, self-esteem, and sports participation. We operationalized parental support as tangible and intangible support provided by parents. We hypothesized that motivation and self-esteem would be positively associated with tangible and intangible parental support, and parental support would mediate the relationship between self-esteem, motivation, and sports participation. We administered questionnaires to 255 students (male = 71; mean age = 17.4, SD = 1.15; female = 184; mean age = 17.1, SD = 1.18) and either of their parents. We tested our hypothesized model using structural equation modeling (SEM), which included testing a measurement model that specified five latent variables and then compared the estimates generated by our hypothesized model with our data. We found our hypothesized model fit the data well. As predicted, there were significant indirect effects of self-esteem and motivation on sports participation through parental support, indicating evidence of mediation. The researchers suggest that parental support for adolescents should be integrated and utilized for future interventions to promote sports participation in the cultural context of China. Future studies with longitudinal follow-ups are suggested to explore actual causal relationships.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adkins, S., Sherwood, N. E., Story, M., & Davis, M. (2004). Physical activity among African-American girls: The role of parents and the home environment. Obesity Research, 12(Supple), 38Se45S. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2004.267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: a social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.

  • Bauman, A., Allman, F. M., Huxley, R., & James, W. P. (2008). Leisure-time physical activity alone may not be a sufficient public health approach to prevent obesity – a focus on China. Obesity Reviews, 9. Supplement, 1, 119–126. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2007.00452.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beets, M. W., Vogel, R., Forlaw, L., Pitetti, K. H., & Cardinal, B. J. (2006). Social support and youth physical activity: the role of provider and type. American Journal of Health Behavior, 30, 278–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beets, M., Cardinal, B. J., & Alderman, B. L. (2010). Parental social support and the physical activity-related behaviors of youth: A review. Health Education & Behavior, 37(5), 621–644. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198110363884.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhalla, J. A., & Weiss, M. R. (2010). A cross-cultural perspective of parental influence on achievement beliefs and behaviors in sport and school domains. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 81, 494–505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biddle, S., & Goudas, M. (1996). Analysis of children’s physical activity and its association with adult encouragement and social cognitive variables. Journal of School Health, 66, 75–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boiché, J. C. S., Sarrazin, P. G., Grouzet, F. M. E., Pelletier, L. G., & Chanal, J. P. (2008). Students’ motivational profiles and achievement outcomes in physical education: A self-determination perspective. Journal of Educational Psychology, 100, 688–701.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowker, A. (2006). The relationship between sports participation and self-esteem during adolescence. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, 38, 214–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chao, R. K. (1994). Beyond parental control and authoritarian parenting style: Understanding Chinese parenting through the cultural notion of training. Child Development, 65, 1111–1120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chao, R. K. (1995). Chinese and European American cultural models of the self reflected in mothers’ childrearing beliefs. Ethos, 23, 328–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, X., Liu, M., Li, B., Cen, G., Chen, H., & Wang, L. (2000). Maternal authoritative and authoritarian attitudes and mother–child interactions and relationships in urban China. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 24, 119–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cleland, V., Timperio, A., Salmon, J., et al. (2011). A longitudinal study of the family physical activity environment and physical activity among youth. American Journal of Health Promotion, 25, 159–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York: Plenum.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Dix, T. (1991). The affective organization of parenting: Adaptive and maladaptive processes. Psychological Bulletin, 120, 3–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edwardson, C. L., & Gorely, T. (2010). Parental influences on different types and intensities of physical activity in youth: A systematic review. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 11(6), 522e535.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eime, R., Harvey, J., Craike, M., Symons, C., & Payne, W. (2013). Family support and ease of access link socio-economic status and sports club membership in adolescent girls: A mediation study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 10(50), 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eriksson, M., Nordqvist, T., & Rasmussen, F. (2008). Associations between parents’ and 12-year-old children’s sport and vigorous activity: The role of self-esteem and athletic competence. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 5, 359–373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fan, X., Chen, P. J., & Cao, Z. B. (2017). Physical activity among Chinese school-aged children: national prevalence estimates from the 2016 Physical Activity and Fitness in China — the Youth Study. Journal of Sport and Health Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2017.09.006.

  • Fox, K. R. (1998). Advances in the measurement of the physical self. In J. L. Duda (Ed.), Advances in sport and exercise psychology measurement (pp. 295–310). Morgantown: Fitness Information Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox, K. R. (2000). The effects of exercise on self-perceptions and self-esteem. In S. J. H. Biddle, K. R. Fox, & S. H. Boutcher (Eds.), Physical activity and psychological well-being (pp. 88–117). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fredricks, J. A., & Eccles, J. S. (2004). Parental influences on youth involvement in sports. In M. R. Weiss (Ed.), Developmental Sport and Exercise Psychology: A lifespan perspective (pp. 145–164). Morgantown: Fitness Information Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuemmeler, B. F., Yang, C., Costanzo, P., Hoyle, R. H., Siegler, I. C., Williams, R. B., & Ostbye, T. (2012). Parenting styles and body mass index trajectories from adolescence to adulthood. Health Psychology, 31(4), 441–449. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027927.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • General Administration of Sport of China. (2015). China's 2014 report on physical activities Available at: http://www.sport.gov.cn/n16/n1077/n1422/7300210.html. Accessed 25.04.2017; in Chinese.

  • Ghaderi, D., & Ghaderi, M. (2012). Survey the relationship between Big Five Factor, happiness and sport achievement in Iranian athletes. Annals of Biological Research, 3(1), 308–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbons, J. L., Lynn, M., & Stiles, D. A. (1997). Cross-national gender differences in adolescents’ preferences for free-time activities. Cross-Cultural Research, 31(1), 55–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez-DeHass, A. R., Willems, P. P., & Holbein, M. F. D. (2005). Examining the Relationship Between Parental Involvement and Student Motivation. Educational Psychology Review, 17(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/S10648-005-3949-7.

  • Harter, S. (1982). The Perceived Competence Scale for Children. Child Development, 53, 87–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harter, S. (2006). Developmental and individual perspectives on self-esteem. In D. K. Mroczek & T. D. Little (Eds.), Handbook of Personality (pp. 311–336). Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henriksen, P. W., Ingholt, L., Rasmussen, M., & Holstein,B. E. (2015). Physical activity among adolescents: The role of various kinds of parental support. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports , 8, 927–932. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12531.

  • Hooper, D., Coughlan, J., & Mullen, R. (2008). Structural Equation Modelling: Guidelines for Determining Model Fit. Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, 14, 53–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan, A., Burton, N. W., & Trost, S. G. (2017). Patterns and correlates of physical activity in adolescents in Dhaka City, Bangladesh. Public Health, 145, 75–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, A. Y. C., & Bond, M. H. (1985). The Confucian paradigm of man: A sociological view. In W. S. Tseng & D. Y. H. Wu (Eds.), Chinese Culture and Mental Health (pp. 29–45). New York: Academic Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kondric, M., Sindik, J., Furjan-Mandic, G., & Schiefler, B. (2013). Participation Motivation and Student’s Physical Activity among Sport Students in Three Countries. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 12(4), 10–18.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li, C., Wang, J. C. K., Pyun, D. Y., & Kee, Y. H. (2013). Burnout and its relations with basic psychological needs and motivation among athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14(5), 692–700.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y., Tang, Y., Cao, Z. B., Chen, P. J., Zhang, J. L., Zhu, Z., et al. (2016). Results from Shanghai’s (China) 2016 report card on physical activity for children and youth. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 13(11 Suppl. 2), S124–S128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, C., Stolk, R. P., Pieter, J. J., Sijtsma, A., Wiersma, R., Huang, G., & Corpeleijn, E. (2017). Factors of physical activity among Chinese children and adolescents: A systematic review. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 14, 36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-017-0486-y.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ma, G. Z. (2010). Boling Zhang’s physical education thought theory and its inspiration (Master’s thesis, Hebei University).

  • Mallett, C., Kawabata, M., Newcombe, P., Otero-Forero, A., & Jackson, S. (2007). Sport Motivation Scale-6 (SMS-6): a revised six-factor sport motivation scale. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2006.12.005.

  • Markland, D., & Tobin, V. (2004). A modification of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire to include an assessment of amotivation. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 26, 191e196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, H. W., & Jackson, S. A. (1986). Multidimensional self-concepts, masculinity, and femininity as a function of women’s involvement in athletics. Sex Roles, 15, 391–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLoyd, V. C. (1990). The impact of economic hardship on Black families and children: Psychological distress, parenting, and socioeconomic development. Child Development, 61, 311–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNeill, L. H., Wyrwich, K. W., Brownson, R. C., Clark, E. M., & Kreuter, M. W. (2006). Individual, social environmental and physical environmental influences on physical activity among black and white adults: a structural equation analysis. Annals of Behavioural Medicine, 31(1), 36–44. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324796abm3101_7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, L. L., Lombardi, D. A., White, M. J., Campbell, J. L., Oliveria, S. A., & Ellison, R. C. (1991). Influence of parents’ physical activity levels on activity levels of young children. The Journal of Pediatrics, 118(2), 215–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orth, U., & Robins, R. W. (2014). The development of self-esteem. Current directions in psychological science, Psychological Science, 23, 381–387. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721414547414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orth, U., Trzesniewski, K. H., & Robins, R. W. (2010). Self-esteem development from young adulthood to old age: A cohort-sequential longitudinal study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98, 65–658. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018769.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pan, S., Cameron, C., DesMeules, M., Morrison, H., Craig, C. L., & Jiang, X. (2009). Individual, social, environmental, and physical environmental correlates with physical activity among Canadians: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 9(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-9-21.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pugliese, J., & Tinsley, B. (2007). Parental socialization of child and adolescent physical activity: a meta-analysis. Journal of Family Psychology, 21, 331–343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richman, E. L., & Shaffer, D. R. (2000). “If you let me play sports”: How might sport participation influence the self-esteem of adolescent females? Psychology of Women Quarterly, 24, 189–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roggman, L. A., Moe, S. T., Hart, A. D., & Forthun, L. F. (1994). Family leisure and social support: Relations with parenting stress and psychological well-being in Head Start parents. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 9, 463–480.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2017). Self-determination theory: Basic psychological needs in motivation, development, and wellness. New York: Guilford Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. M., Williams, G. C., Patrick, H., & Deci, E. L. (2009). Self-determination theory and physical activity: The dynamics of motivation in development and wellness. Hellenic Journal of Psychology, 6, 107–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saelens, B. E., Sallis, J. F., Frank, L. D., Couch, S. C., Zhou, C., Colburn, T., & Glanz, K. (2012). Obesogenic neighborhood environments, child and parent obesity: The neighborhood impact on kids study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 42(5), e57e64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2012.02.008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sallis, J. F., Calfas, K. J., Alcaraz, J. E., Gehrman, C., & Johnson, M. F. (1999). Potential mediators of change in a physical activity promotion course for university students: Project GRAD. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 21(2), 149e158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharkey, B. J. (1979). Physiology of fitness: Prescribing exercise for fitness, weight control and health. Champaign: Human Kinetics.

  • Simpkins, S. D., Fredricks, J., Davis-Kean, P., & Eccles, J. S. (2006). Healthy minds, healthy habits: The influence of activity involvement in middle childhood. In A. Huston & M. Ripke (Eds.), Developmental contexts in middle childhood: Bridges to adolescence and adulthood (pp. 283–302). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Slutzky, C. B., & Simpkins, S. D. (2009). The link between children’s sport participation and self-esteem: Exploring the mediating role of sport self-concept. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 10, 381–389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Song, Y., Wang, H. J., Ma, J., & Wang, Z. (2013). Secular trends of obesity prevalence in urban Chinese children from 1985 to 2010: Gender disparity. PLoS One, 8, e53069.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sonstroem, R. J. (1997). The physical self-system: A mediator of exercise and self-esteem. In K. R. Fox (Ed.), The physical self: From motivation to well-being (pp. 3–26). Champaign: Human Kinetics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, D. L. (1995). A comparison of college athletic participants and nonparticipants on self-esteem. Journal of College Student Development, 36, 444–451.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trost, S. G., & Loprinzi, P. D. (2011). Parental influences on physical activity behavior in children and adolescents: a brief review. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 5, 171–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trost, S. G., Sallis, J. F., Pate, R. R., Freedson, P. S., Taylor, W. C., & Dowda, M. (2003). Evaluating a model of parental influence on youth physical activity. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 25, 277–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tudor-Locke, C., Ainsworth, B. E., Adair, L. S., Du, S., & Popkin, B. M. (2003). Physical activity and inactivity in Chinese school-aged youth: The China health and nutrition survey. International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders, 27, 1093–1099.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vallerand, R. J. (2001). A hierarchical model of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in sport and exercise. In G. Roberts (Ed.), Advances in Motivation in Sport and Exercise (pp. 263–319). Champaign: Human Kinetics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vasques, C., Magalhaes, P., Cortinhas, A., Mota, P., Leitao, J., & Lopes, V. P. (2014). Effects of intervention programs on child and adolescent BMI: A meta-analysis study. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 11(2), 426e444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, C. K. J., Liu, W. C., Lochbaum, M. R., & Stevenson, S. J. (2009). Sport ability beliefs, 2 x 2 achievement goals, and intrinsic motivation: The moderating role of perceived competence in sport and exercise. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 80(2), 303–312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, C. K. J., Sproule, J., McNeill, M., Martindale, R. J. J., & Lee, K. S. (2011). Impact of the talent development environment on achievement goals and life aspirations in Singapore. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 23(3), 263–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, C. K. J., Liu, W. C., Nogawa, H., & Sun, Y. (2015). The influence of Japanese sporting culture and motivation on sport participation and life aspirations. Asia Pacific Journal of Sport and Social Science, 4(2), 113–123. https://doi.org/10.1080/21640599.2015.1065567.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, L., Sun, J., & Zhao, S. (2016). Parental influence on the physical activity of Chinese children. Do gender differences occur? European Physical Education Review, 23, 110–126. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X16641024.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Welk, G., Wood, K., & Morss, G. (2003). Parental influences on physical activity in children: An exploration of potential mechanisms. Pediatric Exercise Science, 15(1), 19–33. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.15.1.19.

  • WHO and the International Olympic Committee Sign Agreement to Improve Healthy Lifestyles (2010). Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2010/ioc_20100721/en/index.html.

  • Xu, Y., Farver, J. A. M., Zhang, Z., et al. (2005). Mainland Chinese parenting styles and parent–child interaction. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 29(6), 524–531. https://doi.org/10.1080/01650250500147121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, X. Y., & Shi, J. S. (2014). Haidian District, Beijing decides to assign physical homework in order to promote students’ fitness and health. Retrieved October 31, 2014, from http://www.moe.edu.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/moe/s5147/2014 01/161657.html.

  • Yolanda, D., & Oliver, H. (2011). Physical activity interventions in the school setting: A systematic review. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 13, 186–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.11.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

I declare that manuscripts submitted to the Journal have not been published elsewhere or are not being considered for publication elsewhere and that the research reported will not be submitted for publication elsewhere until a final decision has been made as to its acceptability by the Journal.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jin Wang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

Authors Haroona Qurban, Jin Wang, Hassan Siddique, Tony Morris and Zhi Qiao declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Participation in the study was voluntary and anonymous, so it was stored with code numbers to identify questionnaires completed by the same student and their parent. Respondents completed the questionnaires using the online survey link and all data were saved automatically without specific identity of the respondents. Some of the study participants were under and some over 18 years old, so those who were 18 and over gave their own written consent and those under 18 obtained written parental consent. Parents who completed questionnaires gave written consent in advance. All data was stored in a secure folder on the first author’s computer during the course of the study.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(JPG 2819 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Qurban, H., Wang, J., Siddique, H. et al. The mediating role of parental support: The relation between sports participation, self-esteem, and motivation for sports among chinese students. Curr Psychol 38, 308–319 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-0016-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-0016-3

Keywords

Navigation