Factors Relating to College Football Players’ Conformity to Traditional Masculine Norms

Abstract

Conforming to masculine norms can lead to depression and anxiety in men. Athletic identity may affect conformity to masculine norms, specifically in college football players. This study explored the relationships among conformity to masculine norms, athletic identity, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being in 110 male college football players. The main findings convey as football players’ conformity to masculine norms increase, their athletic identity increases while their personal growth, life satisfaction and positive relationships decrease. This was specifically true for the areas of conformity to norms related to sexual relationships, winning, and emotional control/expression; as conformity scores to these norms increased, experiences with positive relationships and personal growth decreased. Furthermore, athletes who played football longer and older were less likely to conform to the norms around emotional control, than athletes with less football experience or younger in age. No group differences were found.