Idiocentric and allocentric profile, gender schemas of self-concept, and subjective social status of judo athletes

Background & Study Aim: The aim of elite sports is to achieve improved performance, which is modulated for psychological aspects. The main objective of this study was to identify the idiocentric-allocentric profile, gender schemas of self-concept, and subjective social status of judo athletes. Material & Methods: The study included 63 athletes (35 male and 28 female) with a mean age of 21.86 +/- 6.77 and 19.46 +/- 4.24 years, respectively. The Idiocentric-Allocentric Profile Inventory (I-A Profile), the Gender Schemas of Self-Concept Inventory, and the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status were administered. Data were analysed in SPSS version 20.0 and descriptive statistics were calculated using absolute and relative frequencies, the chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test (p<0.05). Results: There is no congruency between biological sex and gender schemas or between combat individual sport and collectivist/individualist profile among judo athletes in Santa Catarina, Brazil. In general, the subjects showed a predominant collectivist profile followed by the collectivist/individualist profile. In terms of gender schemas, most athletes classified themselves as having a masculine/feminine profile, followed by a masculine profile. With regard to the family subjective social status and the social position within the sports club, the judo athletes ranked themselves as upper and middle class. The female participants were more satisfied with their social status than the male athletes were. Conclusions: We recommend further research in other Brazilian states and other countries using the same variables and instruments as this study in order to enhance the psychosocial profile of judo athletes and propose new strategies for improved performance considering the idiocentric-allocentric profile, gender schemas of self-concept, and the subjective social status of athletes of both genders.