1. Parental Desocialization in Sport
Exploring the shame coping
experiences of youth sport parents
Julie A. Partridge, PhD
Southern Illinois University Carbondale

2. Transitioning Out of Sport
“A transition can be said to occur if an event or non-event results in a change in assumptions about oneself and the world and thus requires a corresponding change in one’s behavior and relationships” (Scholssberg, 1981, p. 5)
Leaving sport has been found to be a significant stressor for athletes
May lead to anxiety, depression, and coping difficulties, particularly for those with high levels of athletic identity (Grove et al., 1997; Wippert & Wippert, 2008; 2010)
Impact of athletic retirement on athletes has been frequently studied; however, we know little about the experience of a child’s transitioning out of sport on parents
Many different types of transitions that happen for athletes
High school to college
Starter to bench warmer
Retirement

3. Parental Identification
We can experience emotions through our associations with other people (in-group members)
The closer the relationship, the more intense the emotional response that is experienced
Parents have been found to be susceptible to experiencing both positive and negative emotions in response to their children’s behaviors (Scarnier, Schmader, Lickel; 2009)
Partridge and Wann (2015) found that parental identification with a child’s sport team was associated with dysfunctional emotional response to a child’s sport performance
More systematic study of parental responses to their child’s sport participation is needed to understand this complex relationship.
Social Identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1986)
People derive a sense of identity from their social associations and thus are motivated to maintain a positive view of their social groups
Lickel et al.(2006) found that people’s feelings of shame for another’s wrongdoing are predicted by the degree to which the event is seen as relevant to the reputation of their group

4. Bidirectional Sport Socialization
Parents have been found to both gain interest and engage in behaviors surrounding sport, based upon their child’s participation (Weiss & Hayashi, 1995)
More recently, more studies have examined the reciprocal nature of sport socialization (child-to-parent; Dorsch et al., 2008) and found changes in parental behaviors, cognitions, affect, relationships
Effects of Athlete Retirement on Parents (Lally & Kerr, 2008)
In-depth interviews with 6 parents of female former elite gymnasts (retired 3- 5 years)
Reported two overall themes:
Impact on Relationships
Parent-parent, parent-child, parent-peer
Lingering Doubts
Child, coaches, family
No research has examined effects of athlete retirement on parents with a non- elite sample.
Changes in Parent Behaviors
Influenced participation in sport, support/sacrifice to facilitate child’s involvement
Changes in Parent Cognition
Awareness in, goals for, knowledge about sport
Changes in Parent Affect
Emotional connection to sport, emotional management strategies, reactive emotional experiences
Changes in Parent Relationships
Communication, parent-child relationship, relationships with parent peers
Existing research has indicated that parent-to-child sport socialization can have a significant impact on the child’s sport experience and competence beliefs (Babkes & Weiss, 1999; Wuerth et al., 2004)
Child – physical/psychological health; Coaches – control, failure to intervene; Family – family integrity, dev’t of other children
Olympic or national team members
Should I have intervened before retirement on how my child was coached? Looking to future indicators such as career advancement,

5. Purpose/Method of Current Study
The purpose of the current study is to explore the experience of leaving the role of sport parent for parents of non-elite level sport participants.
Method
Qualitative study of experience of leaving sport parent role
Participants – parents of children who have recently (i.e., within the previous calendar year) left the sport role either voluntarily or involuntarily (N => 15)
Semi-structured interviews
Interviews are being recorded, transcribed verbatim and content will be inductively analyzed
Member checking will take place after results are analyzed
Both fathers and mothers being recruited
Qualitative study of experience of leaving sport parent role
Participants – parents of children who have recently (i.e., within the previous calendar year) left the sport role either voluntarily or involuntarily (N => 15)
Semi-structured interviews
Interviews are being recorded, transcribed verbatim and content will be inductively analyzed
Member checking will take place after results are analyzed
Both fathers and mothers will be recruited

6. Other Future Research Directions
Longitudinal study utilizing both parent and child as participants
Beginning of senior season of high school sport
Re-assessed at end of senior season and 3 and 6 months post-retirement
Are the child and parent’s reaction to retirement correlated?

7. Thank You Questions? Exploring the shame coping
experiences of youth sport parents
Questions?