Predicting dropout in male youth soccer using the theory of planned behavior

Abstract

This investigation prospectively predicted dropout among young soccer players, using the theory of planned behavior (TPB). First, behavioral beliefs required to develop a TPB-questionnaire were elicited from 53 male soccer players, aged 13-15 years. Second, at the beginning of the soccer season, 354 different male soccer players aged 13-15 years completed this questionnaire, thereby assessing direct dimensions (intention, attitude, subjective norm, perceived control) and indirect dimensions (attitudinal, normative and control beliefs) derived from TPB. Nine months later--upon termination of the soccer season--these players were classified into 323 perserverers and 31 dropouts, with TPB being applied prospectively to predict these two groups. For both direct and indirect dimensions, between-group comparisons revealed significant differences in favor of the perseverers. Discriminant analyses revealed five measures (intention, attitude, subjective norm, a normative belief, and a control belief), which enabled a 22.1% a priori dropout prediction when used within a suitable equation. In conclusion, TPB may have a promising application to prospectively discriminate dropouts from perseverers, providing a potential predictive a priori classification model for sport participation.

Enjoyment and Behavioral Intention Predict Organized Youth Sport Participation and Dropout

“…6,14 The results also support the use of behavioral intentions as proxy measures within cross-sectional research, 7,8,14 and corroborate the findings of other prospective research that investigated the link between intentions and dropout in a single sport. 15,16 Together, findings provide evidence of both affective and cognitive antecedents of dropout behavior, as proposed by the FIT and the TPB.…”

“…7,8,14 A small number of prospective studies found that intentions predict dropout behavior in youth sport, however these studies focused on only one sport. 15,16 Further research is needed to determine whether these findings generalize across a range of sports to support the use of behavioral intentions as a valid and reliable indicator within youth sport research. Furthermore, the studies did not consider enjoyment, and it would be valuable to compare how both affective and cognitive factors relate to dropout behavior.…”

Relative age is associated with sport dropout: evidence from youth categories of French basketball

“…Another influential factor that may lead to dropout is the relative age effect (RAE). However, as noted by Musch and Grondin (2001), despite a growing body of research on this topic, this determinant has not been mentioned in reviews of literature examining the psychological and social factors influencing sport dropout (e.g., Skard & Vaglum, 1989; Brustad et al, 2001; Nache et al, 2005).…”

An Ex Post Facto Process of Data Acquisition from Former Participants of Basketball Preparatory Schools

“…Questionnaires are handed out and collected in clubs, or sent to dropout athletes with no given response rate (Boiché, & Sarrazin, 2009), or they are presented with prescribed statements and without going beyond the limits of their studies, that is where the dropout athletes eventually end up (Nache, Bar-Eli, Perrin, & Laurencelle, 2005). A more particular, subtler look on what obstacles can get in the way of data acquisition in a direct way is needed as follows.…”