Theoretical Foundations for Education of Positive Behavior Skills Among Young Athletes: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The increase in aggressiveness and disrespect to their peers in physically active teenagers and adolescents has become a major topic in the academic world. Risky behavior in teenagers has been attributed to biological, psychological and social factors. Therefore, it is essential to pay much attention to educational programs that develop a person’s physical, emotional, social and cognitive aspects. It has been concluded that positive behavior skills education may be beneficial in personality development. However, there are not many educational programs based on the current theoretical knowledge about the development of positive behavior skills. In addition to this, no educational program, that is based on the positive behavior skills, has been applied in the education of young sportspeople. The aim of our qualitative study was to analyze the theoretical foundations for education of positive behavior skills among young athletes. This qualitative study is based on a directed content analysis strategy. The methods used in the course of this study are analysis of academic literature, synthesis, summarizing, grouping and comparing. It has been highlighted that the construct of positive behavior skills comprises positive personal, positive social and positive emotional skills, that create a multi-layered structural model of positive behavior skills. The types of positive personal, positive social and positive emotional behavior skills are crucial when putting together educational programs for young sportspeople and their well-being. Concluding the results of our theoretical analysis, positive social, positive personal and positive emotional skills should be prioritized in educational programs that develop young athletes’ positive behavior skills.