Perceived social support from team-mates: Direct and stress-buffering effects on self-confidence

Abstract

In this study, we wished to determine whether the perceived support available from team-mates predicts levels of self-confidence. Four dimensions of support were examined: emotional, esteem, informational, and tangible. The sample consisted of 152 university athletes (74 females, 78 males) with a mean age of 20.1 years (s=1.4). Participants completed measures of perceived support, stressors, and self-confidence at the training session before an important match. Moderated hierarchical regression analyses revealed that all four dimensions of support had direct effects on self-confidence (ΔR ²=0.13–0.17, all P<0.01), with support positively predicting self-confidence. Perceived emotional (ΔR ²=0.05, P<0.05), esteem (ΔR ²=0.02, P<0.05), and informational (ΔR ²=0.03, P <0.05) support also had stress-buffering effects on self-confidence. The findings suggest that although university athletes perceived different levels of emotional, esteem, informational, and tangible support to be available from their team-mates, all four dimensions of support positively predicted self-confidence.

Keywords:

• Social support
• stress-buffering
• self-confidence