Date of Award

1986

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Physical Education

Department

Physical Education, Health and Recreation

First Advisor

Robert J. Sonstroem

Abstract

This study was conducted to better identify psychological variables, particularly sport specific psychological variables, which are associated with geographic mobility. Geographic mobility was defined both as distance moved and as number of moves. Two-hundred-one eighth and ninth grade students were selected as subjects for this study.

All subjects were administered the Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (S.E.), the Physical Estimation Scale (EST), the Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT), and the Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE) Scale. Subjects also completed a study-designed form created to produce personal data needed to determine each subjects level of geographic mobility.

The specific hypotheses tested were: (I) that high-mobile students will have significantly lower self-esteem scores than low-mobile students, (II) that high-mobile students will have significantly lower estimation scores than low-mobile students, (III) that high-mobile students will have significantly higher competitive trait anxiety scores than low-mobile students, and (IV) that high-mobile students will have significantly higher fear of negative evaluation scores than low-mobile students.

Hypotheses I and II were supported statistically for both definitions of geographic mobility. Hypothesis IV achieved statistical support only when distance moved was used to define mobility. Discriminant function analysis was conducted in an attempt to better identify salient variables related to geographic mobility. The best discriminator of high and low mobility groups was identified to be global self-esteem accounting for an overall classification accuracy of 71.3%.

Results of this research identified global self-esteem, physical estimation, and fear of negative evaluation as the intrapersonal factors related to the geographic mobility construct. It was recommended that future studies concentrate on distance of moves as a method of defining mobility and that they explore the possible effects of high-mobility on athletic participation and performance.

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