Positive development of master athletes: Theoretical and empirical proposal for assessing an emerging perspective

• Grant number: 23/11856-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Fundamentals and Assessments in Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Evandro Morais Peixoto
• Grantee: Maynara Priscila Pereira da Silva
• Host Institution: Universidade São Francisco (USF). Campus Campinas. Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Sports are an important tool for development and have long been considered a valuable resource for youth, encouraging qualities that can be maintained throughout life. However, how these qualities persist into adulthood and how new ones are acquired has received little focus. Master sport has been an emerging theme under discussion by researchers, who have begun to raise discussions about the importance of practicing sports in people over the age of 35, based on qualitative research, to understand the benefits of this practice and the reasons why athletes get involved and stay in the activity. Given that masters sports have demonstrated social relevance and are growing in various countries, including Brazil, there is still no solid foundation for evaluating development in this age group due to its emerging nature. It is necessary to propose new empirical and instrumental studies, to contribute to professionals in the field of sports science, regarding a more adequate assessment, as well as enabling the development of more effective strategies for maintaining and engaging sports practice. The objective is to propose a theoretical model previously only applied to young people (5Cs - competence, confidence, connection, car and character) and operationalize tools capable of measuring the model in master athletes. To this end, the project will be divided into three studies, namely: (1) investigating the characteristics of the model to adapt to the reality of master athletes, through an interview with the athletes; (2) construction of psychological instruments, with evaluation by judges for the content of the items and social desirability; and (3) estimating psychometric properties and establishing score correction norms.