Identification and modeling of social behavior shaping factors of professional athletes in Iran

The purpose of this study was to develop a model of social behaviors in Iranian professional athletes. The research was based on a combination of exploratory and sequential exploration. Data collection tools were qualitative phase, semi-structured and open interviews with 23 professional athletes, athletic instructors, sports managers, psychologists and sports sociologists. In the qualitative research, statistical samples were selected using snowball method. Data were analyzed in qualitative phase by coding method in three stages: open, axial and selective. The findings included 93 tokens in open coding. In the central coding stage, the factors affecting the formation of the social behaviors pattern of professional athletes in Iran are categorized in the form of organizational component, economic component, political component, cultural component, ethical component, technical component, social component, component of rules and component of internal factors. In the selected coding stage, we have developed a model of social behaviors of professional athletes in Iran. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire based on the qualitative results of the research. Sampling in quantitative phase, randomized, classified. In the quantitative phase, structural equations under the Smart PLS 3.00 software were used to evaluate the behavior patterns of professional athletes in Iran. According to the results of the test, the coefficients (t-value) of all factor loads were significant at 99% confidence level and played a significant and positive role in shaping the behavior patterns of Iranian athlete's athletes.