Engagement in Youth Athletes as a Positive Experience in Sport: Implications of Gender, Age, and Competitive Level.

The aim of this study was to examine athlete engagement and its relationships with indicators of the quality of the athlete's sport experience, exploring potential differences according to gender, age, and competitive level. Furthermore, this study validated the Athlete Engagement Questionnaire (AEQ) in young athletes and confirmed its factor structure. A total of 1188 athletes (43.90% girls) from Argentina participated in the study, with a mean age of 15.92 (SD = 2.50). The participants completed the AEQ along with other measures of athletes' quality of experience, such as motivation, enjoyment, and burnout. This study confirmed the multidimensional nature of engagement, showing positive associations with high-quality athlete experiences and revalidating the inverse relationship with burnout. Moreover, the study found differences in engagement dimensions (i.e., confidence, vigor, dedication, and enthusiasm) based on the interplay of gender, age, and competitive level. In general, male athletes, younger athletes, and those with a higher competitive level showed more engagement and interactions between these sociodemographic variables. The Argentinian version of AEQ exhibited optimal fit and reliability and good indexes of measurement invariance across gender, age, and competitive level. These findings validate the AEQ as a reliable tool for evaluating sport engagement among adolescents in Argentina. Engagement constitutes an indicator of an optimal experience linked to positive youth development through sports participation.

¿Qué implica disfrutar del deporte? Presentación de un instrumento para su evaluación / What is Involved in Enjoying Sport? Presentation of an Instrument for its Evaluation

Resumen El disfrute es una de las razones más fuertes para involucrarse en una actividad deportiva. ¿Pero cómo se puede definir conceptual y operacionalmente este constructo? El objetivo del presente estudio fue indagar con enfoque mixto los componentes del disfrute en el deporte. En el primer estudio participaron deportistas federados del Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires (AMBA, Argentina) (n = 9). Se utilizó una entrevista semi-estructurada y se identificaron las categorías que describen la experiencia de disfrute, tales como, afecto positivo, involucramiento y experiencia autotélica. Los participantes refirieron además sentirse realizados a nivel personal. Por otro lado, en el segundo estudio participaron 362 jóvenes (57.2 % hombres y 42.8 % mujeres) de 14 a 29 años de distintos clubes del AMBA. Para este estudio se operacionalizaron las categorías del primer estudio, a través de 29 ítems, con una escala Likert de cinco puntos de acuerdo. El análisis factorial exploratorio arrojó dos factores que explicaron el 58.8 % de la varianza a través de 17 ítems. La confiabilidad de cada subescala fue alta. El disfrute puede conocerse a través de dos subescalas: afecto positivo . involucramiento. Un factor adicional emergió de los análisis: el sentido de realización personal. Los factores del disfrute correlacionaron positivamente con este último, con el compromiso en el deporte y con el Flow total. Posteriores estudios permitirán conocer otros indicadores de validez de la escala y su uso en diversos contextos.

Abstract Enjoyment is one of the strongest motives to engage in a sports activity, but how can this construct be conceptually and operationally defined? This study aimed to investigate, with a mixed approach, the components of enjoyment in sport. In the first study, federated athletes from the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (MABA, Argentina) participated (n = 9). A semi-structured interview was conducted, and the categories that describe the enjoyment experience were identified, such as positive affect, involvement, and autotelic experience. Participants also reported feeling fulfilled on a personal level. On the other hand, the second study involved 362 young people (57.2% men and 42.8% women) aged 14 to 29 from different MABA clubs. For this study, the categories of the first study were operationalized through 29 items, with a Likert-type scale of five points of agreement. The exploratory factorial analysis yielded two factors that explained 58.8% of the variance through 17 items. The reliability of each subscale was high. Enjoyment can be assessed through two subscales: positive affect and involvement. An additional factor emerged from the analyses: the sense of personal fulfillment. The factors of enjoyment correlated positively with the latter, with the engagement in the sport and with the total flow. Subsequent studies will reveal other indicators of the validity of the scale and its use in various contexts.

Compromiso e intención de abandono en adolescentes de selecciones nacionales argentinas: el papel de los agentes sociales y efectos del género / Engagement and intentions of drop-out in adolescents of Argentinean national teams: The role of social agents and gender effects

Resumen Introducción/objetivo. El objetivo de esta investigación es examinar el poder predictivo de la percepción de los estilos interpersonales de entrenadores/as, padres y madres en el compromiso e intención de abandono de adolescentes deportistas argentinos de alto rendimiento, considerando el papel del género en esta relación. Método. Participaron 234 adolescentes de entre 12 y 16 años (M = 14.48, DT = 1.09) seleccionados para los Juegos Olímpicos de la Juventud -Buenos Aires 2018-, quienes cumplimentaron cuestionarios para la evaluación de las variables de interés. Resultados. Los varones perciben mayores niveles de compromiso que las mujeres y estas perciben mayor apoyo a la autonomía de la madre. El apoyo a la autonomía del entrenador tuvo mayor capacidad predictiva en el compromiso de los varones y en la intención de abandono del deporte de las mujeres. En ambos géneros, el efecto del apoyo a la autonomía del entrenador fue mayor que el de los padres. Conclusiones. Estos resultados muestran la importancia de los otros significativos en la participación deportiva y contribuyen al conocimiento de los factores que pueden favorecer el desarrollo positivo en deportistas adolescentes de alto rendimiento.

Abstract Introduction/Objective. This research aims to examine the predictive power of perceived interpersonal styles of coaches, fathers and mothers on engagement and intentions to drop-out of Argentinean high-performance adolescent athletes considering the role of gender in this relationship. Method. A total of 234 adolescents aged 12-16 years (M = 14.48, SD = 1.09) selected for the Youth Olympic Games -Buenos Aires 2018- participated in the study, who answered questionnaires assessing the variables of interest. Results. Males perceived higher levels of engagement than females, and females perceived higher autonomy support from the mother. Coaches' autonomy support had greater predictive power on males' engagement and females' intentions to drop-out sport. In both genders, the effect of coach autonomy support was greater than parents. Conclusions. These results show the importance of significant others in sport participation and contribute to the knowledge of factors that may foster positive development in high-performance adolescence athletes.

Escala de Promoción de Desafíos por parte de los padres en deportistas adolescentes de alto rendimiento / Parents' Promotion of Challenges Scale in adolescent elite athletes

Antecedentes: la promoción de desafíos por parte de los padres constituye un recurso para el desarrollo positivo de los adolescentes y, específicamente, puede serlo para adolescentes que se implican en una actividad que requiere mucha dedicación, como lo es el deporte de alto rendimiento. Objetivos: el propósito de este trabajo es presentar las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Promoción de Desafíos por parte de los Padres en Deportistas de Alto Rendimiento y evaluar la contribución de esta variable en la experiencia óptima (flow) de estos adolescentes. Método: participaron 276 adolescentes de entre 11 y 19 años de edad ( M = 15.71; DE = 1.49) pertenecientes a las selecciones nacionales argentinas de diferentes deportes. El 54% eran varones ( n = 149) y el 46% mujeres ( n = 127), quienes respondieron un cuestionario sociodemográfico, la Escala de Promoción de Desafíos por parte de los Padres (EPDP) y la Escala de Experiencias Óptimas ( flow ) para Adolescentes. Resultados: a través del Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio, Análisis del Componente de la Varianza y de Generalizabilidad se obtuvieron adecuados indicadores de validez y fiabilidad para la EPDP (GFI = .99; AGFI = .98; CFI = 1; RMSEA = 0.0; RMR = .06; SRMR = .06; G relativo = .82; G absoluto = .81). La promoción de desafíos contribuye al flow desde la dimensión del apoyo y solo tiene un peso significativo en el grupo de mujeres. Conclusiones: este trabajo aporta un instrumento para los profesionales que trabajan con adolescentes y permite contribuir a promover experiencias positivas en el deporte de alto rendimiento.

Background: parents' promotion of challenges is a resource for adolescents' positive development and, specifically, it can constitute a resource for adolescents who engage in a high- commitment activity such as elite sports. Objectives: the aim of this work is to present the psychometric properties of the Parents' Promotion of Challenges Scale in elite athletes and to evaluate the contribution of this variable in the optimal experience, or flow, of these adolescents. Method: a total of 276 adolescents aged between 11 and 19 years ( M = 15.71; SD = 1.49) representing Argentinean national teams of different sports participated in the study. Fifty four percent (54%) were males ( n = 149) and 46% were females ( n = 127). The participants answered a socio- demographic questionnaire, the Parents' Promotion of Challenges Scale (EPDP), and the Flow State Scale for Adolescents. Results: the Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Component of Variance Analysis and Generalizability Analysis showed adequate indicators of validity and reliability for the EPDP (GFI = .99; AGFI = .98; CFI = 1; RMSEA = 0.0; RMR = .06; SRMR = .06; relative G = .82; absolute G = .81). Parents' promotion of challenges contributes to the flow through the support dimension and it is only significant for women. Conclusions: this research provides an instrument for professionals working with adolescents and allows to contribute to promoting positive experiences in elite sports.

¿Cómo perciben los adolescentes de la ciudad de Buenos Aires su futuro? Una mirada desde sus actores / How adolescents from Buenos Aires city perceive their future? An approach from its actors

Resumen La forma en que los adolescentes perciben su futuro tiene una gran importancia en su desarrollo positivo. Este trabajo se propone conocer y comprender cómo un grupo de adolescentes escolarizados de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires percibe su futuro. Se realizó un estudio de tipo exploratorio-descriptivo con metodología cualitativa y un diseño transversal. Se trabajó con una muestra intencional de 24 adolescentes (M = 16.10; DE = 1.10) de ambos sexos (mujeres = 54,20 %). Se realizaron entrevistas individuales y grupos focales. Se realizó un análisis de contenido temático con los datos recolectados. Se encontraron dos grandes temas respecto de la percepción del futuro en los adolescentes. El primero se refiere a la imagen que los adolescentes tienen de su futuro. Sus componentes son: valoración, contenido y grado de claridad de la imagen del futuro. El segundo hace referencia a la forma en que los adolescentes construyen su futuro. Sus componentes son: ocuparse del futuro, entornos en los que los adolescentes construyen su futuro, influencia de la familia y valoración del proyecto. Un hallazgo emergente es que los adolescentes difieren en la descripción que hacen de ellos mismos, de sus pares cercanos o de los otros adolescentes en general.

Abstract The way adolescents perceive their future is very important for a positive development. This work aims to identify and understand how a group of adolescent students form Autonomous City of Buenos Aires perceive their future. An exploratory-descriptive study with qualitative methodology and cross-sectional design was conducted. We worked with a purposive sample of 24 adolescents (M = 16.10, SD = 1.10) of both sexes (female = 54.20%). Individual interviews and focus groups were conducted. Thematic content analysis of data collected was performed. Two main themes were found regarding adolescents' perception of their future. The first concerns the view adolescents have about their future. Its components are: evaluation, content and degree of image clarity of the future. The second concerns the way adolescents build their future. Its components are: dealing with the future, environments where adolescents build their future, family influence, and evaluation of the project. An emerging finding is that adolescents differ in their descriptions made of themselves, of their closest peers or from other adolescents in general.

Possible Selves in Adolescence: Development and Validation of a Scale for their Assessment.

Possible selves (PSs) have a significant role in adolescents' development. For this reason, it is of great importance to have adequate measures to operationalize them. The aim of this work is to present the construction and validation of a scale to assess PSs at the end of high school in multiple domains. Participants were adolescents (n = 320) of both sexes (female = 51.3%) from high-schools in Buenos Aires City, Argentina (age, M = 14.9, SD = 1.5). The scale was developed based on a literature review and a previous qualitative study. Expert judges' assessment revealed that it has good content validity. The scale's structure was studied with exploratory factor analysis and a 5-factor structure with theoretical meaning was found. Spearman's correlations between current and future self-perceptions show evidence of convergent validity. Mann-Whitney U test shows that the scale can discriminate by sex and age. The scale shows adequate to very good internal consistency. These results show that the scale has adequate psychometric properties to assess PSs in Argentine adolescents. The advantages of this scale relative to existing measures of PSs are discussed. Scale development allows us to know more about how adolescents think they will be during a significant life transition such as the end of high school. This is particularly important for planning interventions that focus on motivation and behavior regulation.

La percepción de los estilos de crianza y su relación con las autopercepciones de los niños de Buenos Aires: diferencias en función del género / Perceived Parenting Styles and their Relation to Self-perceptions of Children from Buenos Aires: Differences by Gender

RESUMEN El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar la influencia de la percepción de los estilos de crianza en las autopercepciones de los niños en función del género. Se administró el Perfil de Autopercepciones para Niños (SPPC) y la Escala Argentina de Percepción de la Relación con los Padres a una muestra de 98 niños de ambos sexos (varones 43.90 %; edad media = 9.86; DE = 1.28) de Buenos Aires (Argentina). Se encontró que la percepción de la relación con los padres predice el nivel de las autopercepciones de las niñas en los todos los dominios evaluados (físico/social, académico/comportamental, y autoestima global) mientras que solo la aceptación por parte de la madre predice las autopercepciones de los varones en el dominio físico/social.

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to study the influence of perceived parenting styles in children's self-perceptions considering differences by gender. The Self-Perception Profile for Children (SPPC) and the Argentine Scale of the Perception of the Relationship with Parents was administered to a sample of 98 children of both genders (males 43.90 %, mean = 9.86 years, SD = 1.28) of Buenos Aires (Argentina). We found that the perception of the relationships with parents predicted the level of girls' self-perceptions in all the assessed domains (physical/social, academic/behavioral, and global self-esteem) while only the acceptance perceived in the relationship with the mother predicted boys' self-perceptions in the physical/social domain.

Los posibles sí mismos de los adolescentes de Buenos Aires / The possible selves of adolescents from Buenos Aires / Os possíveis si mesmos de adolescentes de Buenos Aires

El objetivo de este trabajo fue explorar y describir los posibles sí mismos (PSs) de un grupo de adolescentes de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (C.A.B.A.). Participaron de este estudio 72 adolescentes (69.4% mujeres) de una escuela privada de la C.A.B.A. (M = 15.04; DE = 1.56). Los adolescentes respondieron un cuestionario de preguntas abiertas en el que se les pidió que realicen un listado de sus PSs cuando terminen el secundario. Se realizó un análisis de contenido temático de las respuestas y un conteo de frecuencias de las categorías. Los adolescentes generaron PSs en cinco grandes áreas: personal, académico/ocupacional, física, social, y de satisfacción y logros. El área más prevalente es la académico/ocupacional. La mayoría de los adolescentes generaron PSs en una o dos áreas.

The aim of this study is to explore and describe the possible selves (PSs)of a group of teenagers from the City of Buenos Aires (C.A.B.A.). Participants were 72 adolescents(69.4% female) from a private school in C.A.B.A. (M = 15.04; SD = 1.56). Adolescents completed a questionnaire with open-ended questions in which adolescents were asked to make a list of theirPSs when they finish high school. Thematic content analysis of responses and frequency counts ofcategories was conducted. Teens generated PSsin five major areas: academic/occupational, physical,social, and satisfaction and achievements. The most prevalent area is the academic/occupational.Most teenagers generated PSs in one or two areas.

O objetivo deste estudo foi explorar e descrever os possíveis si mesmos(PSS) de um grupo de adolescentes da Cidade de Buenos Aires (Caba). Este estudo envolveu 72adolescentes (69.4% mulheres) de uma escola particular da Caba (M = 15.04, DP = 1.56). Os adolescentes responderam a um questionário de perguntas abertas, que foram convidados a fazer uma lista de seu PSs quando terminem o ensino médio. Análise de conteúdo temática das resposta se uma frequência de contagem das categorias foi realizada. Os adolescentes geraram PSs em cinco grandes áreas: acadêmica / profissional, físico, social, e pessoal de satisfação e realizações. A área mais prevalente é o acadêmico / profissional. A maioria dos adolescentes geraram PSs em uma ou duas áreas.

The Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS-V) and Its Use in Latin American Adolescents: Alcohol Consumption Pattern as an External Criterion for Its Validation.

Sensation Seeking is a trait defined by the seeking of varied, novel, complex, and intense situations and experiences, and the willingness to take physical, social, and financial risks for the sake of such experience. The Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS-V) is the most widely used measure to assess this construct. In previous studies a variety of psychometric limitations were found when using the SSS-V with Latin American population. The purpose of this study is to present additional psychometric properties for its use with Latin American adolescents. It was applied to a 506 adolescent sample (from 12 to 20 years). The result is a scale of 22 items that cover four factors. It seems that sensation seeking among Latin American adolescents can be described in terms of four factors, but with some slightly content differences from what is usually found in adult samples from other countries. Future lines of research are proposed.

Satisfacción vital en dominios específicos: adaptación de una escala para su evaluación / Life satisfaction in specific domains: adaptation of a scale for its evaluation

El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar la adaptación de la Escala de Satisfacción Vital en Dominios Específicos para su uso en adultos de Buenos Aires. En una primera etapa, se trabajó en la equivalencia lingüística y conceptual. En la segunda etapa, se aplicó la versión local de la escala a una muestra de 187 adultos (mujeres = 56.10 %) con una edad media de 31.20 (DE = 10.70). Se estudió la capacidad de discriminación de los ítems, la confiabilidad, validez de constructo y de contenido. Los resultados mostraron que la escala posee adecuada validez de contenido para ser aplicada en adultos de nuestro medio y presenta claras evidencias de validez de constructo y adecuada precisión para casi todas las subescalas. Se discuten los resultados considerando la importancia de generar nuevos desarrollos conceptuales e instrumentales relativos a los conceptos de la Psicología Positiva.

The aim of this paper is to present the adaptation of the Life Satisfaction Scale in Specific Domains to be used in adults from Buenos Aires. In a first stage, work was done in the linguistic and conceptual equivalence. In the second stage, the local version of the scale was applied to a sample by 187 adults (women = 56.10 %) with an average age of 31.20 (SD = 10.70). We studied the ability of discrimination of items, the reliability, construct validity and content. The results showed that the scale has adequate content validity to be applied in adults of our environment, and presents clear evidence of construct validity and adequate precision for almost all the subscales. The results are discussed in view of the importance of generating new conceptual and instrumental developments relating to the concepts of positive psychology.