Transcendent motivations and virtue development in adolescent marathon runners

Virtue in Pursuit of Goals: A Goals-Based Approach to Patience Measurement

In this paper, we provide a contextualized assessment of virtue through validation of a goals-based approach to measuring patience, the Goals-Based Virtue-Patience Scale (GBV-P). To assess virtue in a way congruent with its definition requires consideration of situational and contextual factors; however, most extant measures of virtue instead assess virtue at a decontextualized, global level (Ng & Tay, 2020). As such, we developed a contextualized and motivationally attuned goals-based assessment of the virtue of patience, the ability to remain calm in the face of frustration, suffering, or delay in goal pursuit. We engaged multilevel structural equation modeling to validate a new measure of patience in pursuit of goals nested within people. Across three studies (N = 798) assessing the GBV-P, data were consistent with reliability and structural validity tests, and associations of the new measure with other regulatory virtues or constructs (e.g., global patience, self-control, conscientiousness, perseverance, emotion regulation) as well as well-being (e.g., life satisfaction, goal orientation, meaning) and ill-being outcomes (e.g., depression and anxiety symptoms, loneliness, stress) provided evidence of convergent validity. Likewise, patience was differentially engaged depending on the goal domain and type; approach (vs. avoidance), interpersonal (vs. intrapersonal), and generativity goals were pursued with more patience.

Analysis of University Student Motivation in Cross-Border Contexts

The development of the personality of university students can determine their affinities for certain disciplines; therefore, it is important to know their specific socio-demographic and motivational profile, what motivates them to start a certain university degree and what encourages them to continue with it, which can help to adapt the teaching methodology. A total of 292 university students from the University of Granada (Ceuta and Melilla campuses) participated in this quantitative study with a descriptive, cross-sectional design, in which motivation and social skills were analysed. Among the results, it can be highlighted that the student population is mainly female, with a higher level of motivation. Sociability, communication, thinking (optimistic or pessimistic), empathy and self-confidence are skills that affect university students' motivation levels. This study highlights the importance and impact of students' motivation on their learning and the development of their social competence, so it is essential to carry out educational interventions that promote these types of skills, especially in cross-border contexts, which can be demotivating environments.

Humanitarian Athletic Participation and Identity Work

Numerous studies examine youth purpose and volunteerism, but only few investigate how altruistic activities shape identity development within athletic contexts. Endurance-based humanitarian fundraising teams are becoming increasingly popular forms of volunteerism among adolescents and young adults in the United States, but little is known about their developmental role. Twenty-four participants (15–21 years of age; M = 17.42) were interviewed to identify the prominent themes that arose from their experiences while training for and participating in a marathon. A thematic analysis was used to determine the dominant themes that characterized the intersection of humanitarian marathon training and running with aspects of identity work. The majority of the comments of the participants were directly tied to their experiences in running the marathon. Four themes were identified including identity work, faith, purpose, and social connection. More so than exploring their possible selves, a consistent theme throughout the interview with the participants was what they learned about their current selves and the capacities they already possessed during their marathon experience.

Religiosity in adolescence

Person-centered approaches to religious development across adolescence reveal diverse trajectories of change, which are differentially subject to environmental and genetic influences. Studies support the robust protective effects of religiosity on adolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms. However, some specific religious beliefs may predict poor adjustment. Evidence also suggests adolescent religiosity may exacerbate sexual identity conflicts and increase prejudice toward proscribed outgroups. Researchers demonstrate robust mediating effects of effortful control for explaining religiosity's influence on outcomes, and approaches to establish mediation through assessment intraindividual variability in the daily dynamics of religiosity and positive outcomes are promising. Inclusion of non-Western, non-Christian samples has allowed scholars to begin identifying the universal versus culturally specific elements of religiosity trajectories and processes in adolescence.

Bidirectional Associations across Time between Entitativity, Positive Affect, Generosity, and Religiousness in Adolescents Training with a Religiously Affiliated Charity Marathon Team

Numerous studies have established that participation in regular physical activity provides physical, cognitive, and affective benefits to adolescents, but fewer studies have examined how athletic involvement might affect character, social, or religious developmental markers of psychosocial functioning. The purpose of this study is to examine the bidirectional associations between entitativity (group closeness), positive affect, generosity, and religiousness across time among adolescents and emerging adults involved in charitable marathon training. We collected data from 396 adolescents and emerging adults who trained for half/full marathons with a religiously affiliated charity team. Participants completed measures at three occasions over 18 weeks (pre-training, mid-training, post-race). We conducted cross-lagged path analysis of latent factors to study concurrent and longitudinal effects of intrinsic religiousness, positive affectivity, and entitativity on interpersonal generosity and fundraising. Participants who reported higher levels of pre-training generosity were more likely to experience positive affect during training, which predicted higher levels of post-race generosity. Likewise, the internalization of religious ideas, reflected in increased intrinsic religiousness during training, was associated with higher post-race generosity. Overall, results support the potential of charitable sporting events to promote positive psychosocial developmental outcomes.