Sampling multiple sports in childhood is associated with continued participation in sport, but little is known about whether sport sampling may be associated with youth character development, another outcome of widespread interest in the field. Furthermore, even less is known about how sport participation influences development. For example, sport…

People desire to have positive self-esteem. Research by Crocker, Luhtanen, Cooper, & Bouvrette (2003) has demonstrated that late adolescents buttress their sense of self-worth through at least seven different means. Focusing primarily on two such contingencies (seeking to support self-esteem through virtuous behavior and through competitive…

With millions of youth involved in sport in North America and across the world, the potential positive impact for good that sport coaches can play in the development of moral character in their players and teams is significant. Yet, there is limited empirical data on the effectiveness of the design and integration of youth sport coach character…

In this study of first-year intercollegiate athletes (N = 2241), we examined predictors of the character-rich qualities of life purpose and integrity. Three dimensions of purpose were included--seeking purpose, found purpose, and purpose beyond-the-self. The predictor variables investigated included contesting orientations, fear of failure, goal…