Exploring relationships between psychological sense of community, empathy and sportspersonship

This study investigated the relationships between psychological sense of community (SoC), cognitive empathy (CE), affective empathy (AE) and sportspersonship behaviours among high school student-athletes, particularly attending to whether CE and AE mediated the relationship. Data were collected from 1,216 participants over a two-year cycle with a planned missing data design being used in year 2 to reduce participant burden and maximize data collection quality. Participants completed self-report surveys measuring the variables of interest. No differences emerged between year 1 and year 2 data. Employing structural equation modelling to analyse the data across the 2 years, a partially mediated model emerged. Results revealed SoC was positively associated with CE, AE, respect for rules and officials, commitment to sport participation and respect for social conventions while being negatively related to the negative approach towards practice of sport. CE and AE mediated the relationship between SoC and the positive sportspersonship behaviours. The study contributes to our understanding of how planned missing data designs can be used in research and provides insights into the positive role the SoC may play on sportspersonship behaviours directly and indirectly through CE and AE. Practically, coaches may want to consider how they develop SoC on their sport teams.