The Relationship Between Parental Support and Self-Confidence: A Moderation Study of Age and Gender Among Swimming Athletes in Surabaya City

This study aims to examine the relationship between parental support and self-confidence among swimming athletes in Surabaya and to analyze the moderating roles of age and gender in this relationship. This research employed a quantitative approach with a correlational design. The participants consisted of 199 swimming athletes in Surabaya. Data were collected using parental support and self-confidence scales. Data analysis was conducted using Pearson correlation analysis and Moderated Regression Analysis (MRA). The results showed a positive and significant relationship between parental support and self-confidence among swimming athletes in Surabaya, with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.693 and p < 0.001. The moderation analysis revealed that gender significantly moderated the relationship between parental support and self-confidence (B = 0.203; p = 0.002), with a stronger relationship found among female athletes compared to male athletes. Furthermore, age also significantly moderated the relationship between parental support and self-confidence (B = 0.0139; p = 0.049), although the effect size was small (β = 0,102). These findings indicate that age does not directly influence self-confidence but strengthens the relationship between parental support and self-confidence. This study highlights that parental support is an important factor in developing athletes’ self-confidence, while its effectiveness may vary depending on individual characteristics such as gender and age.