The effect of parental pressure on the stress, self-efficacy and overall well-being of athletes

Abstract

Research indicates that a child’s interpretation of their parent’s actions and words related to their sport experience has a direct influence on their child’s ability to cope with the stressors of sport. The purpose of this synthesis was to review the literature on the effect of parental pressure on the stress, self-efficacy and overall well-being of athletes. Results indicate that parental pressure to be the best has a negative effect, while pressuring a child to be their best has more of a positive effect. While a parent may believe that are saying and doing all the right things, ultimately, the research proves that the way the athlete perceives these behaviors has the biggest effect on their athletic career.