Work

A study of the effects of different group involvement on children’s sport behavioral choices: a group preference-based perspective

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: In order to investigate the characteristics of children's sport behavioral choices in different group-involvement contexts and the role of group favoritism in this relationship. Methods: 280 children aged 3-8 years were recruited for a psycho-experimental study in two different experimental contexts. Results and discussion: The results found that (1) in the in-group and out-group involvement situations, the rate of physical activity selection was significantly higher in the in-group than in the out-group, and there was a significant difference, indicating that there was an in-group preference in the selection of physical activities by children aged 3 to 8 years old. (2) There was a significant age difference in the low favorite physical activity choice in the parent-intimate peer involvement context. Negative rank was lower than positive rank in physical activity choice among 3- to 4- and 5- to 6-years-olds, suggesting the presence of parental attachment behaviors among 3- to 4- and 5- to 6-years-olds. In summary, it can be seen that children aged 3-8 years show a clear phenomenon of in-group favoritism in their choice of physical activity, which may be related to children's early social cognitive development and attachment behavior.

Source: Frontiers in Psychology

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1632707

Authors: Xiaoyan Fan, Hui Xiao, Tongnian Yang, Qi Liu

Institutions: Jiangxi University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Nanchang Institute of Technology, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Shanghai University of Sport

Language: English

Topic: Social and Intergroup Psychology

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801