Prediction and Prioritization of Social Identity Components among Professional Athletes

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Imam Khomeini International University, Ghazvin, Iran.

2 PhD, Department of Sociology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to predict and prioritize the sociological components of social identity in professional athletes.
Methods: The current research utilized a mixed research design of sequential exploratory type, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative components. The statistical population consisted of professional athletes, with 150 individuals selected as the research sample in a purposeful and available manner. A researcher-made questionnaire, as well as Safarinia and Roshan's social identity questionnaire, were utilized to collect information. The reliability of the questionnaire was calculated using Cronbach's alpha. Content-related validity was assessed by 10 sports experts, while construct validity was evaluated through exploratory factor analysis. Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis test, Friedman test, Pearson correlation test, and regression test were employed to analyze the data.
Results: Qualitative research samples identified wealth, respect, and management as the most significant factors influencing the social identity of professional athletes. The research findings indicated a positive and significant relationship between wealth, respect, management factors, and social identity. However, no significant relationship was found between background variables and social identity. Regression test results revealed that reward and wealth, respect and influence, as well as management factors, had the most substantial impact on the social identity of professional athletes.
Conclusion: Given that reward and wealth, respect and influence, and managerial factors have the most significant impact on social identity, it is recommended to enhance the social identity of professional athletes by increasing facilities and salaries, involving them more in major sports decisions, and providing management support.
 

Keywords

References

 Agi MA, Nishant R. Understanding influential factors on implementing green supply chain management practices: An interpretive structural modeling analysis. Journal of environmental management, 2017, 188, 351-363.
2. Jafari M, Heidari H. Investigate the relationship between leadership styles and organizational health in Hamedan city police station Command. Resource Management in Police Journal of the Management Dept, 2014; 2(5): 79-96. In Persian  
3. Mohagheghi Kamal SH, Sajadi H, Zare H, Biglarian A. Need Assessment Among the Elders of Social Security Organization & National Retirement Fund. Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing 2008; 3 (1) :8-15. In Persian
4. Niknam S, Ghadimi B, Sadafi Z. Sociological Explanation in Effective factors on the Attitude towards the Reproduction of National Identity in National Football Team (from the Following Perspective of the National Football Team of the Islamic Republic of Iran). National Security, 2022; 11(42): 451476. In Persian
5. Ranjbari S. Investigating the Factors Affecting Social Status of Physical Education Teachers Using Structural Interpretative Modeling. Sport Psychology Studies, 2020; 9(31): 109-122. In Persian
6. Hematinezhad MA, Shafiee Kordshooli S, Hajiabadi M. comparative surveying of athletic identity of Iranian Super League Handball players and leading behavior of their coaches based on team performance. Applied Research in Sport Management, 2016; 5(2): 63-75. In Persian
7. Berzonsky MD, Neimeyer GJ. Ego identity status and identity processing orientation: The moderating role of commitment. Journal of Research in Personality, 1994, 28(4), 425–435.
 8. Sabrina WP, Rupendra Sh, Deborah S, Megan P. Health problems and retirement due to ill-health among Australian retirees aged 45– 64 years. 2010;94(2):175-81.
 9. Longobardi C, Iotti NO, Jungert T, Settanni M. Student-teacher relationships and bullying: The role of student social status. Journal of adolescence, 2018, 63, 1-10.
10. Stephan Y, Brewer BW. Perceived determinants of identification with the athlete role among elite competitors. Journal of applied sport psychology, 2007, 19(1), 67-79.
11. Adlipoor S, Soleimani H, Mafakheri E. Relationship between Media Consumption and Social Identity and Modern Lifestyle: A Case Study on Tabriz Young Citizens. Communication Research, 2014; 21(79): 121-146. In Persian
 12. Jahanbakhsh S, Abdi Zarrin S. Predicting Social Well-being According to Mindfulness, Social Identity, and Spirituality in Students of University of Qom in the Academic Year of 2020-2021. Health Spiritual Med Ethics 2022; 9 (1) :49-56. In Persian
13. DeVellis RF, Thorpe CT. Scale development: Theory and applications. Sage publications, 2021. 

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 01 October 2020
  • Revise Date: 02 May 2021
  • Accept Date: 06 June 2021

Share

How to cite

Statistics