Advanced self-organization strategies of junior athletes with different time perspective profiles

Abstract

The aim is to empirically examine and theoretically substantiate how extreme self-organization strategies function among junior athletes with different time perspective profiles. Methods. The random sample accurately represented the general population. The sample comprised n = 120 junior athletes who systematically participated in sports at Olympic reserve sports schools for children and youth in Ukraine or professional academies of leading football and handball teams. The respondents were participants in National, European, and World junior championships. Junior athletes aged 15–19 (М = 18.23; SD = ± 3.35) played for the U-15, U-17, and U-19 teams or represented individual sports. A valid, reliable, and representative diagnostic toolkit was used to examine coping strategies and time perspective parameters. Results. Nine direct correlations were identified between time perspectives and coping strategies. "Positive Past" was found to be the most autonomous time perspective in respondents' use of extreme self-organisation strategies. "Fatalistic Present" was found to be the most dependent time perspective, with the largest number of correlations: two correlations with non-productive coping strategies, "Confrontation" (p ≤ .050) and "Distancing" (p ≤ .010), and one correlation with the productive coping strategy "Self-Controlling" (p ≤ .010). The "Future" was identified as the most constructive time perspective, correlating only with productive coping strategies: "Accepting Responsibility" (p ≤ .050) and "Planful Problem-Solving" (p < .001). Respondents were divided into five groups based on time perspective values. It was established that Group 1, with the Future” as a dominant time perspective (n = 30; 25.00%), had the most balanced profile. Comparison between Group 1 and the other studied groups allowed recording significant superiority of Group 1 only in productive coping strategies for junior athletes' extreme selforganisation. At the same time, the other studied groups (Group 2, Group 3, Group 4, and Group 5) demonstrated the dominance of all non-productive coping strategies and one productive coping strategy, "Self-Controlling". "Self-Controlling" was found to be the most effective strategy provided that the "Future" time perspective prevailed. In all other cases, excessive self-control had a destructive effect. Discussion and conclusions. Junior athletes' extreme self-organisation strategies, compared across time perspectives, allowed for revealing probable behavioural scenarios in extreme competitive situations. The study suggests that established patterns and substantiated empirical findings on time perspectives and coping strategies should be used in methodological support for training coaching and teaching staff working with junior athletes.