Current directions in social influence: parents and peers

Abstract

Social influence in sport can result from a number of possible sources including parents, peers, siblings, coaches, and fans. Two of the most commonly studied social influences are parents and peers. Parental influence may occur through several different mechanisms, and may impact children in both positive and negative ways (e.g., burnout, anxiety, enjoyment). Peers are also an important source of social influence and have been found to have a significant impact on psychosocial outcomes in sport. This article reviews previous findings in these two areas of social influence in sport and provides an understanding of current and trends in has become a more popular topic in sport psychology in recent years.