Reducing psychological barriers of teenage handball players when taking responsibility: longitudinal study

The paper reflects the results of a formative experiment aimed at increasing the readiness of adolescent athletes to take responsibility by reducing the psychological barriers that make it difficult. Responsibility as a personal quality is relevant in any activity, and adolescence is a sensitive period of its manifestation. This demonstrates the resource component of adolescence for the transition to adulthood and accompanies success in determining one’s place in activity and socialization. The development of responsibility occurs due to its formation from childhood, in the process of learning by example and the transfer of freedom of action in feasible matters, which often contradicts our habitual paternalistic position of upbringing and involuntary support of infantilism of youth. The study of the literature and the earlier ascertaining stage of the study made it possible to identify personality qualities that act as barriers to the manifestation of responsibility in adolescence; they are: anxiety, low level of motivation and self-management, negative coping strategies (escaping or distancing), blaming other people or circumstances. This made it possible to select diagnostic material for evaluating the results of the formative experiment, based on the following six methods: determining the level of responsibility, motivation, self-regulation, coping strategies, anxiety, the level of group development, assessing the relationship between the coach and athletes. The longitudinal study involved 16 adolescent athletes from Krasnodar. The formative experiment of responsibility development was carried out using the methodology of psychological training in a youth handball team for a year. The effectiveness of the training was evaluated by three diagnostic sections. Changes in the absolute values of the measured indicators and correlations between them were taken into account. The results of the study showed that the factor preventing the removal of psychological barriers to accept responsibility is excessive anxiety of young athletes. The study demonstrates the need and importance for longitudinal psychological work with athletes.