PERCEPÇÃO DO DESENVOLVIMENTO DE HABILIDADES PARA VIDA EM JOVENS PRATICANTES DE MODALIDADES ESPORTIVAS COM E SEM DEFICIÊNCIA

This investigation aimed to analyze the perceptions of young practitioners of Olympic and Paralympic modalities about the development of life skills through sport, according to sex, age group and time of practice. The sample included 147 young athletes from Olympic (n = 57) and Paralympic (n = 90) modalities, with an average age of 13.14 ± 1.37 years and practice time of 7.35 ± 4.83 years. The instruments used were: a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Life Skills Scale for Sport (P-LSSS). Data analysis was performed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, independent t and Pearson correlation (p <0.05). The most experienced practitioners obtained higher values in the dimensions of leadership and communication (p <0.05). When comparing the sexes, the boys obtained a greater perception of learning in the variables: goal setting, social skills and emotional skills (p <0.05). When comparing the modalities, Olympic sports athletes showed significant differences in teamwork, problem solving, emotional skills, leadership, time control and communication (p <0.05). It is concluded, based on the conception of young athletes, that sport can contribute to the learning of positive characteristics, with sports practice in the long run being one of the possible factors that result in the success of this process.