Sport enjoyment and weight related comments from coaches, teammates, peers, and family members

Abstract

Among adolescent girls, weight related comments (WRCs) exacerbate appearance concerns and may negatively impact sport experiences. However, WRCs from the primary sociocultural agents who may influence sport enjoyment (i.e. family, peers, coaches and teammates) is underreported. Thus, the current study had two main objectives; (1) determine the frequency of WRCs from family, peers and sport coaches and teammates, and (2) examine whether WRCs predicted sport enjoyment above and beyond perceptions of sport competence. Adolescent girls (N=198, Mage= 16.05, SD= 1.37) completed questionnaires. In total 64% of adolescent girls reported WRCs from family, peers, coaches and teammates: 61% were reported from family, 19% from peers, and 24% from coaches and teammates. Predictors of sport enjoyment were examined using hierarchical regressions. Controlling for age and body mass index, sport competence (?=0.54, p <0.001) and WRC from coaches and teammates (?=-0.21, p=0.002) predicted sport enjoyment (R2=0.33). Findings suggest that WRCs from teammates and coaches (compared to peers and family), may be particularly detrimental to sport enjoyment in adolescent girls. The findings provide implications for improving adolescent girl sport participation and suggest that strategies should be developed to reduce WRCs in the sport environment.