Perceptions of relationships with parents and peers in youth sport: Independent and combined prediction of motivational outcomes

Purpose: This Study was designed to examine how youths' perceptions of their relationships with parents and peers independently and in combination predict motivational outcomes in youth sport. Method: Youth soccer players (N = 186) completed survey measures tapping perceptions of parent-child relationship quality, friendship quality, and peer acceptance relative to the soccer context as well as soccer-related motivational outcomes (i.e. enjoyment, stress, perceived competence, and self-determined motivation). Results: Descriptive findings showed that more positive perceptions of social relationships were associated with more positive motivational outcomes. Hierarchical regression analyses showed: (a) higher enjoyment and perceived competence were predicted by higher perceptions of two or three social relationship variables in combination, (b) lower stress was predicted by higher peer acceptance and father-child relationship quality, but not by combinations of social relationship variables, and (c) higher self-determined motivation was predicted by higher peer acceptance, father-child relationship quality, and either friendship quality or mother-child relationship quality. Conclusion: Overall the study suggests that considering the combination of parent, peer group, and friendship relationships is critical to a full understanding of the social relationship-motivation linkage.