The Influence of Sports Star Image on Sports Engagement among Chinese Adolescents

Purpose: Adolescence is a crucial period for value formation, with sports playing a key role in socialization and adherence to norms. Modern sports convey societal values and influence youth behavior. While there is extensive research on sports stars in Korea, studies on their impact on Chinese youth are limited. This research aims to analyze the images of sports stars to understand their effects on Chinese youths' attitudes and participation, and to provide foundational data for improving sports policies and programs. Method: The study used a 26-item questionnaire divided into personal characteristics (3 items), sports interest(8 items), and sports star images (15 items). Reliability was between .580 and .796, with an overall .792. Data collection involved direct school visits and self-administered surveys. SPSS 27.0 was used for t-tests, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis to examine the impact of sports star images on sports interest among Chinese adolescents. Results: Based on gender, male adolescents showed higher perceptions of sports stars’ appearance, evaluation, and sensory images. There were no differences based on school year. The appearance, evaluation, and sensory images of sports stars significantly impacted sports interest. Additionally, differences in sports interest were observed based on gender and interest in sports stars, with a higher interest in sports stars correlating with increased sports interest. Conclusion: Firstly, male adolescents showed higher perceptions of sports star images in appearance, evaluation, and sensory aspects compared to females, with no significant differences in athletic performance images. No differences were found based on school year. Secondly, sports stars' appearance, evaluation, and sensory images significantly impact sports interest, highlighting these factors as key to increasing adolescents' engagement in sports.