Perceived social support from team‐mates: Direct and stress‐buffering effects on self‐confidence

In this study, we wished to determine whether the perceived support available from team‐mates predicts levels of self‐confidence. Four dimensions of support were examined: emotional, esteem, informational, and tangible. The sample consisted of 152 university athletes (74 females, 78 males) with a mean age of 20.1 years ( s =1.4). Participants completed measures of perceived support, stressors, and self‐confidence at the training session before an important match. Moderated hierarchical regression analyses revealed that all four dimensions of support had direct effects on self‐confidence (Δ R 2 =0.13–0.17, all P <0.01), with support positively predicting self‐confidence. Perceived emotional (Δ R 2 =0.05, P <0.05), esteem (Δ R 2 =0.02, P <0.05), and informational (Δ R 2 =0.03, P <0.05) support also had stress‐buffering effects on self‐confidence. The findings suggest that although university athletes perceived different levels of emotional, esteem, informational, and tangible support to be available from their team‐mates, all four dimensions of support positively predicted self‐confidence.