UNRAVELING THE BOND: GROUP COHESION AND SOCIAL IDENTITY IN PROFESSIONAL RUGBY UNION

RESUMO

Dr. Pellet Julien, Dr. Gerat Pierre, Dr. Pete Emilie, Dr. Relave Antoine, Dr. Martinent Guillaume, Prof. Heuze Jean-Philippe,

This study investigates the relationships between three dimensions of social identity (cognitive centrality, ingroup ties, and ingroup affect) and four dimensions of group cohesion (individual attractions to the group social, individual attractions to the group task, group integration-social, and group integration-task) within a professional rugby team. Thirty-eight male players (Mage=24.86; SD=4.13) participated in semi-structured interviews following a six-week pre-season period. Thematic analysis identified 706 meaning units, which were analyzed using Pearson’s Chi-squared tests to examine the associations between the dimensions of social identity and group cohesion. Results revealed significant associations, particularly between ingroup ties and group integration, and between cognitive centrality, ingroup affect, and individual attractions to the group – task. These findings advance the literature by integrating the social identity approach with the study of group cohesion, highlighting how different aspects of social identity contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of cohesion in sports teams. This study demonstrates that considering social identity dimensions can complement traditional cohesion models, offering deeper insights and suggesting targeted interventions to enhance team dynamics and performance in professional sports.