Linking Sport Participation With Prosocial and Antisocial Behaviours in Adolescents: The Moderating Role of Perceived Coach and Physical Education Teacher Character–Building Competency

Research investigating the relationship between sport participation and day-to-day antisocial and prosocial behaviours in adolescents has revealed mixed findings. However, research investigating whether social factors reflective of how sport is facilitated could moderate these relationships has received scant attention. This study examined whether perceived coach or physical education (PE) teacher character-building competency moderated relationships between sport participation and both day-to-day prosocial and antisocial behaviours in adolescents. In a sample of 456 adolescents, coach or PE teacher character-building competency moderated how sport participation was linked with prosocial behaviour and violence. Specifically, there was a significant positive relationship between sport participation and prosocial behaviour when coach or PE teacher character-building competency was perceived high, but this relationship was negated when coach or PE teacher character-building competency was lower. Moreover, when coach or PE teacher character-building competency was perceived low, sport participation was positively associated with violence, but this association was negated when such character-building competency was perceived higher. However, this latter moderating effect became nonsignificant after controlling for gender and sport club involvement. Perceived coach or PE teacher character-building competency was also positively associated with day-to-day prosocial behaviours and inversely associated with day-to-day antisocial behaviours in adolescents. These findings offer valuable insight into how sport participation may contribute to adolescents' day-to-day prosocial and antisocial behaviours, alongside underscoring the importance of fostering sport environments that actively support moral character development.