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Effect of Perceived Effort on Social Identity in Team Sport

An Exploratory Study

##article.authors##

  • Julien Pellet Université de Bourgogne https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8522-9522
  • Romuald Lepers CAPS UMR1093, Université Bourgogne Europe, Inserm, F-21000 Dijon, France
  • Ariane Tamisier Psy-DREPI UR7458, Faculté des sciences du sport, Université Bourgogne Europe, BP 27 877, 21078 Dijon Cedex, France
  • Emilie Pété Nantes Université, Movement - Interactions - Performance, MIP, UR 4334, F-44000, Nantes, France
  • Léo Lurquin Psy-DREPI UR7458, Faculté des sciences du sport, Université Bourgogne Europe, BP 27 877, 21078 Dijon Cedex, France
  • Pierre Gérat Psy-DREPI UR7458, Faculté des sciences du sport, Université Bourgogne Europe, BP 27 877, 21078 Dijon Cedex, France, Ligue AURA, Fédération Française de Rugby, Chaponnay, France
  • Alan Guyomarch Psy-DREPI UR7458, Faculté des sciences du sport, Université Bourgogne Europe, BP 27 877, 21078 Dijon Cedex, France, CerCo CNRS UMR5549, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
  • Emmanuelle Lepers Psy-DREPI UR7458, Faculté des sciences du sport, Université Bourgogne Europe, BP 27 877, 21078 Dijon Cedex, France
  • Florian Vitry CAPS UMR1093, Université Bourgogne Europe, Inserm, F-21000 Dijon, France
  • Marie-Françoise Lacassagne Psy-DREPI UR7458, Faculté des sciences du sport, Université Bourgogne Europe, BP 27 877, 21078 Dijon Cedex, France
  • Philippe Castel Psy-DREPI UR7458, Faculté des sciences du sport, Université Bourgogne Europe, BP 27 877, 21078 Dijon Cedex, France
  • Iouri Bernache-Assolant HAVAE UR20217, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Limoges, Limoges, France
  • Raphaël Laurin Psy-DREPI UR7458, Faculté des sciences du sport, Université Bourgogne Europe, BP 27 877, 21078 Dijon Cedex, France
  • Mickaël Campo Psy-DREPI UR7458, Faculté des sciences du sport, Université Bourgogne Europe, BP 27 877, 21078 Dijon Cedex, France, Sport Psychology Department (Pôle PMAS), Fédération Française de Rugby, France

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51224/SRXIV.541

Keywords:

Exertion, Ingroup ties, Cognitive centrality, Ingroup affect, Youth elite development program

Abstract

Group dynamics influences performance and well-being in team sports. While social identity has been linked to motivation and effort perception, little is known about the reverse effect of perceived effort on social identity. This study explored whether a higher perception of effort would be associated with lower social identity ratings, operationalized through ingroup ties, cognitive centrality, and ingroup affect. Twenty-two elite youth athletes (Mage = 15.41, SD = 0.80) completed a cycling task with a progressive load, during which social identity and perceived effort were repeatedly assessed. Linear mixed models indicated that perceived effort significantly predicted ingroup ties (β = 0.006, p = 0.026), but not cognitive centrality or ingroup affect (ps > 0.05). These results suggest that, contrary to our hypothesis, increasing effort perception may strengthen interpersonal bonds within the group rather than diminish social identity. This finding aligns with theories of social identity salience and suggests that shared physical exertion could enhance group functioning. Future research should explore how team presence moderates these effects and examine alternative mechanisms linking effort perception and social identity

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2025-04-08

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Copyright (c) 2025 Julien Pellet, Romuald Lepers, Ariane Tamisier, Emilie Pété, Léo Lurquin, Pierre Gérat, Alan Guyomarch, Emmanuelle Lepers, Florian Vitry, Marie-Françoise Lacassagne, Philippe Castel, Iouri Bernache-Assolant, Raphaël Laurin, Mickaël Campo (Author)

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