Parental Influence and Socialization Into Sport for Male and Female Intercollegiate Athletes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the childhood socialization influences of male and female intercollegiate athletes in order to ascertain whether there were dif ferences in the sport socialization process between the sexes. The data indicated that parents of both male and female intercollegiate athletes tend to be involved in sports themselves, with parents of male athletes being more involved in a variety of ways than parents of female athletes. While parents of both groups are supportive of their offsprings' sports involvement, fathers tend to be more supportive of their sons than of their daughters. There is little difference in the support accorded sons and daughters by mothers. There is a weak positive relationship between socio-economic status (SES) and parental expectations, encouragement, and time spent participating with their offspring.