# Self-Esteem and Feelings of Inferiority and Superiority Among Athletes and Non-Athletes

## TL;DR

The study found that athletes have higher self-esteem and fewer feelings of inferiority compared to non-athletes, possibly due to their achievements and media portrayal.

## Contribution

The novelty lies in comparing global self-esteem and feelings of superiority and inferiority between athletes and non-athletes using specific validated scales.

## Key findings

- Athletes showed significantly higher self-esteem and stronger feelings of superiority than non-athletes.
- Athletes reported fewer feelings of inferiority compared to non-athletes.
- More years of sports experience correlated with increased self-esteem and reduced inferiority feelings.

## Abstract

Self-esteem is a central part of personality, related to self-perceptions and evaluation of oneself compared to other people. Self-esteem could be global self-esteem, concerning the whole personality, or partial self-esteem, concerning the different aspects of personality and performance. Global self-esteem, as well as feelings of inferiority and supremacy, were compared among 197 athletes and 198 non-athletes in Bulgaria based on three self-reported questionnaires—the inferiority complex shortened scale COMPIN-10, the superiority complex shortened scale SUCOMP-10, and the single-item self-esteem scale. It was found that the athletes had significantly higher self-esteem and more strongly expressed feelings of superiority, as well as fewer experienced feelings of inferiority than the non-athletes. This may be due to athletes’ achievements and their recognition by society, as well as the social image imposed by media as rich, successful, and representatives of their country. High self-esteem is necessary for athletes to be confident in their ability to perform well during sports competitions. More years of sport experience correlated with a decrease in inferiority feelings and an increase in self-esteem. There were not any statistically significant differences between the athletes practicing individual sports and the athletes practicing team sports in their inferiority feelings, superiority feelings, or self-esteem.