Jan E. Veinot

Date of Award

5-2014

Level of Access Assigned by Author

Campus-Only Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Education

Advisor

Sidney Mitchell

Second Committee Member

Sandra L. Caron

Third Committee Member

Annette Nelligan

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate and describe a daughter’s perception of father involvement in her sports; and the relationship to her self-esteem and fear of failure. The purpose of the study was exploratory in nature and it was hypothesized that quality father involvement would be positively associated with a daughter’s self-esteem and negatively associated with fear of failure.

Female high school athletes who specialize in the male-dominated team sport of basketball completed questionnaires measuring their perception of their father’s involvement and their own self-esteem and fear of failure. This research was based on a quantitative, correlational research design. Data was gathered from a convenience sample of 53 adolescent girls who specialized in the sport of basketball, using three separate assessment instruments: The Father Involvement Survey (FIS), The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and the Performance Appraisal Inventory (Long Form) (PFAI). Correlational analyses were done on the scales and subscales of these surveys.

Significant relationships were found between several perceived levels of father involvement and self-esteem and fear of failure. The data indicated that father involvement significantly correlated with a daughter’s higher self-esteem and lower fear of failure. These findings also identified the kinds of qualities in father involvement that significantly relate to a daughter’s feelings and fears about self. The findings from this study can provide critical information to professionals working with female high school athletes, as well as fathers who are involved in their daughters sporting life. It gives insight to the kind of communication and type of relations female athletes need in order to maintain self-esteem and reduce fear of failure as they develop through adolescence.

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