SELF-ESTEEM ATTRIBUTIONAL COMPONENTS OF ATHLETES VERSUS NONATHLETES

Several studies have noted that athletes have higher overall self-esteem in comparison to nonathletes of the same gender. This study tested 95 male university athletes and 90 male nonathletes using the Semantic Differential Scale. It was hypothesized that differential social cognition would be linked to the athletes' status as an experienced athlete in their spout which could then engender additional mood-congruent cognitions in the areas of optimism, attractiveness, aggressiveness and independence, resulting in overall greater self-esteem. A discriminant analysis of component self-esteem factors offered support to these hypotheses, in that the athletes showed higher self-esteem attributes in areas not normally associated with competitive sports.