Network centrality, group density, and strength of social identification in college club sport teams.

Scott A. Graupensperger · Michael Blair Evans

33 citations0/0 files storedGroup Dynamics Theory Research and Practice

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Sport Psychology and Performance Social and Intergroup Psychology Sports, Gender, and Society

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: With the underlying rationale that social identification is related to psychological health and well-being, we aimed to understand how social connections and group structure within college club sport teams relate to students' perceptions of social identification. METHOD: We sampled 852 student-athletes from 35 intact same-sex college club sport teams. Using social network analyses derived from teammates' reports of connections with one another (i.e., time spent outside of sport, and teammate friendships), we computed: outdegree centrality (i.e., self-reported connections with teammates), indegree centrality (i.e., nominations from others), and group-level density. Multilevel models were fit to test the relative effects of outdegree centrality, indegree centrality, and group-level team density on athletes' social identification strength. RESULTS: Outdegree centrality, indegree centrality, and team density were all positively related to the strength of athletes' social identification with their sport team. Examining model results step-by-step, incoming nominations of social connections (i.e., indegree) were associated with social identification beyond the effects of self-reported outdegree centrality. Furthermore, team-level density was significantly related to social identification after accounting for the individual-level effects of centrality. CONCLUSION: Sport is a domain where participants can build social connections with peers, and sport groups offer a salient source for social identification. The current findings indicate that athletes who have greater social connections with teammates may form a stronger sense of social identification. Alongside theoretical contributions to a social identity approach to studying small groups, the current study highlights the utility of studying small groups using social network methodologies.

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2012A single‐item measure of social identification: Reliability, validity, and utility 2006Beyond self-esteem: Influence of multiple motives on identity construction.2005Individuality and Social Influence in Groups: Inductive and Deductive Routes to Group Identity.2015A Social Identity Approach to Sport Psychology: Principles, Practice, and Prospects 2017Ties That Bond: Youth Sport as a Vehicle for Social Identity and Positive Youth Development 2008Levels of Social Complexity and Dimensions of Peer Experiences in Youth Sport 2015The Art of Athlete Leadership: Identifying High-Quality Athlete Leadership at the Individual and Team Level Through Social Network Analysis

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