Are Parents Spending Too Much on Athletics?
Research from sports psychologist Travis Dorsch studied the effect of parental spending on young athletes. The study found that greater parental spending is associated with lower levels of young-athlete enjoyment and motivation. Parents often justify high levels of spending in hopes that the investment will lead to a college scholarship. Kevin Helliker, an editor for The Wall Street Journal, reports:
“The study adds to a small but growing body of research suggesting that parents ought to temper their investments in youth athletics. The problem, at root, isn’t financial: It is that big expenditures tend to elevate parental expectations. ‘The more parents do, the more they expect a return on their investment,’ possibly reducing their chances of a favorable outcome, says Daniel Gould, director of Michigan State University’s Institute for the Study of Youth Sports…
Other researchers say heavy spending is problematic only if parents expect a performance-related return on investment. ‘When you take your kids to Disneyland, you hope it enriches their day—not that they’ll win a competition to take Mickey Mouse home with them,’ says Dr. Dorsch, a former Cincinnati Bengals kicker who attributes his own athletic success in part to his parents’ relaxed approach.”
Read the full report here.
