The Parent–Child Relationship and Sport Parents’ Experiences of Burnout and Engagement

in Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology

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J.D. DeFreese University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Travis E. Dorsch Utah State University

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Travis A. Flitton University of Utah

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2017-0006
Keywords:
conflict; parenting; psychological well-being; warmth; youth sport
In Print:
Volume 12: Issue 2
Page Range:
218–233
Restricted access

Burnout and engagement are important psychological outcomes in sport with potential to impact athletes as well as sport parents. The present study examined associations among markers of the sport-based parent child-relationship (warmth and conflict) and parent burnout and engagement in organized youth sport. Youth sport parents (N = 214) aged 26–66 years (M = 43.2, SD = 6.2) completed valid and reliable self-report assessments of study variables. Study results showcased warmth, but not conflict, in the parent–child relationship as a significant negative contributor to global burnout and a significant positive contributor to global engagement in sport parents. Results offer preliminary insight into the impact of parent–child warmth in sport on parents’ experiences of burnout and engagement. Findings have implications for future research and practice designed to promote positive psychosocial experiences for sport families.

DeFreese is with the Dept. of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC. Dorsch is with the Dept. of Human Development and Family Studies, Utah State University, Logan, UT. Flitton is with the Dept. of Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.

Address author correspondence to J.D. DeFreese at defreese@email.unc.edu.
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