John G.H. Dunn

Toward a Grounded Theory of the Psychosocial Competencies and Environmental Conditions Associated with Soccer Success

The purposes of this study were to identify and examine psychosocial competencies among elite male adolescent soccer players in order to present a grounded theory of factors associated with soccer success. Participants (N = 40) were 20 Canadian international youth soccer players (M age = 16.8 years), 14 English professional youth soccer players (M age = 16.2 years), and 6 English professional coaches. Using grounded theory methodology (Strauss & Corbin, 1998), data analysis followed several coding procedures geared toward theory development. Four major psychosocial competencies that appear to be central to success in elite youth soccer emerged from the data. The competencies were labeled Discipline (i.e., conforming dedication to the sport and a willingness to sacrifice), Commitment (i.e., strong motives and career planning goals), Resilience (i.e., the ability to use coping strategies to overcome obstacles), and Social Support (i.e., the ability to use emotional, informational, and tangible support). These results are compared to existing sport talent development research and a grounded theory of the psychosocial competencies and environmental conditions associated with becoming a professional soccer player is presented. Research and practical implications arising from this exploratory theory are discussed.

A Multi-Method Multi-Analytic Approach to Establishing Internal Construct Validity Evidence: The Sport Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale 2

This article presents a chronology of three empirical studies that outline the measurement process by which two new subscales (Doubts about Actions and Organization) were developed and integrated into a revised version of Dunn, Causgrove Dunn, and Syrotuiks (2002) Sport Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (i.e., the Sport-MPS-2). All studies were designed to provide internal validity evidence that supported the inclusion of these new subscales into the instrument. Phase 1 determined that expert judges regarded the new Doubts about Actions and Organization items (n = 12) as possessing adequate levels of content-relevance and content-representativeness. Phases 2 and 3 examined the latent dimensionality of the Sport-MPS-2 using multidimensional scaling and factor analytic techniques. At a structural level, results indicated that the new Doubts about Actions and Organization subscales were suitable for inclusion in the Sport-MPS-2. Initial external validity evidence is presented via correlational and regression analyses surrounding the relationships between Sport-MPS-2 subscales and global self-esteem. The benefits of utilizing a multi-method multi-analytic approach in the initial stages of the construct validation process are discussed.

Examining the relationship between perfectionism and trait anger in competitive sport

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between athletes’ perfectionist orientations and their dispositional tendencies to experience anger in sport. A sample of 138 male teenage high‐performance Canadian Football players (M age = 18.27 years, SD = .71) completed multidimensional domain‐specific measures of perfectionism and anger in sport. Canonical correlation (R C) results revealed a profile of maladaptive perfectionism (i.e., high personal standards combined with high concern over mistakes and high perceived coach pressure) that was significantly correlated with competitive trait anger (R C = .56) and the tendency to experience anger when playing poorly (R C = .47). That is, as athletes’ levels on three perfectionism dimensions increased (i.e., personal standards, concern over mistakes, and perceived coach pressure), so did their dispositional tendencies to experience anger in sport. The benefits of conceptualizing perfectionism as a domain‐specific construct, and the importance of considering all dimensions of perfectionism simultaneously when examining the functional nature of the construct in sport are discussed

Longitudinal idiographic analyses of appraisal and coping responses in sport

Abstract Objectives : To (a) identify perceived stressors encountered by high-performance female athletes and examine their attempts at coping with these specific stressors, and (b) to monitor athletes’ perceptions of their coping responses and assess how coping influenced on-going appraisal of the situation and subsequent coping. Method : Data were collected from four high-performance female soccer players (aged 21 to 28 years). Players maintained audio-diaries over a 6-week period during the season. They were also interviewed once at the start and again at the end of the data collection period. Results : Presented via idiographic profiles, results revealed certain recursive relationships between personal goals, stress appraisals, and coping responses. Stressors were reported when personal goals were threatened, and the coping responses that were employed appeared to influence subsequent stress reappraisals and coping. Conclusions : Appraisals and coping appear to occur in a recursive manner. Longitudinal idiographic approaches that include daily diaries may be useful in future research that considers other recursive relationships between goals, emotions, appraisal, and coping.

An investigation of multidimensional worry dispositions in a high contact sport

Abstract Objectives : To (a) investigate the dimensionality of competitive worry in the high contact sport of Canadian football, (b) examine the extent to which athletes were predisposed towards worrying about factors relating to personal performance failure, negative social evaluation, injury or physical danger, and situational uncertainty, and (c) determine the degree to which dispositional worry tendencies predicted pre-competitive cognitive and somatic state anxiety. Method : Male Canadian Football players ( n =170, M age=18.24 years) completed the Football Worry Scale (FWS), a football-specific version of the Collegiate Hockey Worry Scale (Dunn, J.G.H. (1999). Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology , 21 , 259–279), to measure athletes’ dispositional tendencies to experience competitive worry across four domains. A sub-sample of athletes ( n =100) also completed the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) (Martens, Burton, Vealey, Bump, & Smith (1990). Competitive anxiety in sport (pp. 117–190). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.) to measure pre-competitive state anxiety. Results : Confirmatory factor analyses of FWS data supported the retention of four factors to reflect the latent dimensionality of competitive worry. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed that performance failure was the most characteristic type of worry. Correlation and multiple regression analyses revealed that worry about situational uncertainties (i.e. fear of the unknown) was the strongest predictor of both somatic and cognitive state anxiety. Conclusions : Findings reinforce the importance of treating competitive worry as a multidimensional construct in future competitive sport anxiety research.

Gymnastics: The double back salto dismount from the parallel bars

Abstract The purpose of this study was to identify those mechanical determinants or their trends that distinguished a gymnasts best performance of the double back salto dismount on parallel bars from those judged to be inferior. Dismounts, in the tucked position, by nine Canadian gymnasts were analysed. Unique to this study was the inclusive analysis of multiple performances of the same skill by these athletes. It was felt that within‐subject comparisons would reveal the kinematic variables on which the gymnast may focus in order to achieve their best performances. A non‐parametric median sign test was used to compare mechanical variables, within subjects, between the dismount judged the best and those dismounts awarded a lower score. Three judges judged each dismount. In comparison to poorer performances of the dismount, statistical analyses revealed that athletes best performances were characterised by (1) a higher release point, more vertical velocity yet with less angular momentum at takeoff, (2) greater height, with a tighter and earlier tuck position during the flight phase, and (3) a greater range of motion and a more compact squat position at landing (all ps < .06).The purpose of this study was to identify those mechanical determinants or their trends that distinguished a gymnasts best performance of the double back salto dismount on parallel bars from those judged to be inferior. Dismounts, in the tucked position, by nine Canadian gymnasts were analysed. Unique to this study was the inclusive analysis of multiple performances of the same skill by these athletes. It was felt that within-subject comparisons would reveal the kinematic variables on which the gymnast may focus in order to achieve their best performances. A non-parametric median sign test was used to compare mechanical variables, within subjects, between the dismount judged the best and those dismounts awarded a lower score. Three judges judged each dismount. In comparison to poorer performances of the dismount, statistical analyses revealed that athletes best performances were characterised by (1) a higher release point, more vertical velocity yet with less angular momentum at take-off, (2) greater height, with a tighter and earlier tuck position during the flight phase, and (3) a greater range of motion and a more compact squat position at landing (all ps < .06).

Athletes and parents coping with deselection in competitive youth sport: A communal coping perspective

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine how female adolescent athletes and their parents cope with deselection from provincial sport teams using a communal coping perspective. Method: Individual semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 14 female adolescent athletes (M age = 15.0 years; SD = 1.4) and 14 of their parents (5 fathers, 9 mothers; M age = 45.2 years; SD = 5.4). Participants were deselected from provincial soccer (n = 4), basketball (n = 5), volleyball (n = 2), and ice hockey (n = 3) teams. Data were analyzed using a descriptive phenomenological approach (Giorgi, 2009) guided by a framework of communal coping (Lyons, Mickelson, Sullivan, & Coyne, 1998). Results: Participants appraised deselection from a shared perspective (i.e., athletes and parents viewed deselection as ‘our problem’) and the responsibility for coping with deselection changed as time progressed. Initially, parents protected their daughters from the negative emotions arising from deselection (an ‘our problem, my responsibility’ orientation). Athletes and parents then engaged in cooperative actions to manage their reactions to the stressor (an ‘our problem, our responsibility’ orientation). Finally, athletes and parents engaged in individual coping strategies, again reflecting an ‘our problem, my responsibility’ orientation but with athletes taking more responsibility for coping. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the value of using a communal coping perspective to understand interpersonal dimensions of coping in sport, and revealed forms and processes of communal coping used by athletes and their parents. HighlightsAthletes and parents perceived deselection as a shared stressor.The responsibility for coping with deselection and its consequences changed as time progressed.Initially, parents tried to protect their daughters from negative emotions.Athletes and parents then engaged in cooperative coping actions.Finally, athletes focused on their club team and increased their training efforts.

A qualitative study of exemplary parenting in competitive female youth team sport.

This study examined how exemplary youth sport parents support their daughters in competitive team sport. Individual interviews were first conducted with eight coaches (three women and five men). Coaches were then invited to nominate exemplary youth sport parents. Interviews were subsequently conducted with 10 nominated parents (seven mothers and three fathers). Interpretive description methodology (Thorne, 2016) was used. Results were organized around three categories: being autonomy supportive (represented by the themes of not forcing a direction, sharing goals, fostering independence, and emphasizing effort and having fun), building healthy relationships (trusting and communicating with coaches and supporting the team and club), and coping with emotional demands (assisting before competitions and monitoring emotions during and after competitions). Theoretically, the results highlight the value of autonomy-supportive parenting styles and parents’ emotional intelligence.