Sport participation and acculturative stress of young migrants in Greece: The role of sport motivational environment. (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Morela, Eleftheria; Elbe, Anne-Marie; Theodorakis, Yannis; Hatzigeorgiadis, Antonis
• Is Part Of: International journal of intercultural relations. Volume 71(2019)
• Page Start: 24
• Page End: 30
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: Autonomy support -- Basic needs satisfaction -- Controlling coaching behavior -- Social integration; Intercultural communication -- Periodicals; Cultural relations -- Periodicals; Cross-cultural studies -- Periodicals; Communication interculturelle -- Périodiques; Relations culturelles -- Périodiques; Études transculturelles -- Périodiques; Cross-cultural studies; Cultural relations; Intercultural communication; Periodicals; 303.482
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijintrel.2019.04.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0147-1767

Abstract

Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to examine migrants' level of acculturative stress in relation to sport participation, and to investigate the role of the sport motivational environment. Participants were 127 (60 girls) migrant high school students (M = 14.14, SD = 1.46 years of age). Among them, 48 were athletes competing in either team (N = 31) or individual sports (N = 17). All participants completed measures of acculturative stress, while those participating in organized sport additionally completed measures of autonomy supportive and controlling coaching behavior. The results revealed that young migrants who participated in sport showed lower levels of school-related stress and discrimination than those who did not participate in sports. Furthermore, autonomy-supportive coaching behavior was negatively related to acculturative stress, whereas controlling coaching style was positively related to acculturative stress. The results of the present study suggest that sport can serve as a buffer against acculturative stress and highlight the key role of the motivational environment in young athletes' acculturation experiences.