Media consumption, self-esteem and behaviour of young footballers

Abstract

This study discusses whether there is a relationship between media consumption, cheating in sports and self-esteem in youth football in Malta. The reason for the study is to measure how important media consumption is to a developing individual who is playing football and how his or her self-esteem affects his or her behaviour and attitude on the football pitch. To investigate the correlation, a survey was conducted in 38 football nurseries all around Malta and Gozo where 918 respondents were surveyed. The methods used in the study were Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale, question groups from a study about winning-at-all-costs and general questions about media consumption habits among young footballers in Malta. Results showed that cheating in sports has become a part of the game, because respondents reveal their playing habits and approve the fact of rule bending as a normal phenomenon in today’s football. All in all, the situation in youth football is not terrible, but there are opportunities which should be taken in the Maltese football associations hands’ to improve the youth football environment. The study explains the biggest issue in youth sport is not the self-esteem or media consumption, but coaches and parents action by pushing youths to ‘win-at-all-costs’. The pressure from them drives the young athlete into bending the rules to satisfy the parents or coaches will for the win.