The Structural Relationship Among Perceived Positive and Negative Parenting Attitude, Life Skills, and Transfer of Chinese Student-Athletes

A parenting attitude is regarded as a very important factor influencing the positive development of student-athletes. However, there are far fewer studies on parenting attitude in sport PYD area. This study aimed to understand the relationship among the positive/negative parenting attitudes, life skills, and transfer. Participants were 257 Chinese student-athletes (male=171, female=86, Mage=15.70) in track and field, basketball, soccer, and taekwondo. Date were analyzed by using descriptive statistic, correlation, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). SEM analysis showed that parenting attitude was significantly related to life skills development and transfer. A positive parenting attitude had a positive effect on life skills and transfer, while a negative parenting attitude had a negative effect. Furthermore, positive and negative parenting attitudes indirectly affected life skills transfer by mediating life skills development. The findings of this study show that the role of parents determines the possibility of life skills development and transfer of Chinese student-athletes.