Democratic parental behaviour and sport performance

The objective of this research was to know what parental behaviour in the democratic educational style is related to sport performance and adult sports success. The different variables were measured using an ad hoc sociodemographic questionnaire, the Multifactor Self-Assessment Test of Child Adjustment (TAMAI) and the Oviedo Scale of Infrequency of Response (INF-OV). The results showed significant differences in the U Mann Whitney test in the item “My father or guardian encouraged me to do things” in favour of international athletes who received greater encouragement from parents (p<.05; d=.14). At the same time, they showed almost significant differences in the items “My father or tutor is amused by what I say or do”, and “My mother or guardian gave me almost everything I asked for”, for athletes who had not achieved international successes. It was concluded that “My father or guardian encouraged me to do things” can be related to children who reach the level of international competition, and that the granting of whims on the part of the mother and the approval of conduct on the part of the father can be related to not achieving international success.