The Effects of Adolescents’ Sports Friendship in Sport Adherence Intention: Verification of Mediating Effect of Social Support

This study aimed to verify the mediating effect of social support in the effect of sports friendship on sports adherence intention. To this end, a survey was conducted on 451 adolescents to measure sports friendship, social support, and sports adherence intention, and was analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM). The research results showed that sports friendship among adolescents has a static impact on social support and sports adherence intention, and social support had a significant mediating effect on the relationship between sports friendship and sports adherence intention. In particular, it was found that positive friendships formed during sports activities increase the social support experienced by adolescents, thereby increasing the sustainability of sports participation.