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- Title
Athletic Identity in Marathon Runners: Functional Focus or Dysfunctional Commitment?
- Authors
Horton, Robert S.; Mack, Diane E.
- Abstract
Previous research on athletic identity (Brewer, Van Raalte, & Linder, 1993; AI) suggests that strong AI may force an athlete to neglect other aspects of life in order to fulfill the athlete role. This project assessed the effect of AI on life priorities and athletic experiences. Two hundred thirty-six runners completed a questionnaire assessing demographic information, AI, life priorities, commitment to sport, sport performance, and psychological, physical, and social consequences of marathon training. Bivariate and extreme groups analyses investigated the relationship between scores on the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (Brewer, Van Raalte, & Linder, 1993) and each of the variables mentioned above. There was no evidence that runners with high AI were neglecting other aspects of life in order to fulfill the role of an athlete. Relative to low AI, high AI was associated with better athletic' performance, more commitment to running, expanded social network, and relatively more frequent experience of both positive and negative effects of marathon training. The relevance of age of athlete in the assessment of AI is discussed.
- Publication
Journal of Sport Behavior, 2000, Vol 23, Issue 2, p101
- ISSN
0162-7341
- Publication type
Academic Journal