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Cited by 12Sport Psychology and PerformanceMotivation and Self-Concept in SportsDiverse Music Education Insights

Self-Expectations, Socially Prescribed Expectations, and Wellness in 14- to 15-Year-Old Athletes, Ballet, and Music Students in Norwegian Talent Schools—An Interview Study

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Stornæs, Annett Victoria, Sundgot-Borgen, Jorunn, Pettersen, Gunn, Rosenvinge, Jan H., Nordin-Bates, Sanna M.·2023·The Sport Psychologist
DOI 10.1123/tsp.2022-0133
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Abstract

Talent-school settings may generate stress via demanding expectations. To investigate students representing Norway’s growing phenomenon of early adolescent talent schools, we interviewed twenty-seven 14- to15-year-old boys and girls about their experiences with self- and socially imposed expectations. Students were recruited from two sports schools (n = 14) and one school each with talent classes for ballet (n = 7) and music (n = 6). Using reflexive thematic analysis, we found four main themes representing the performers’ accounts of (a) self-oriented expectations of persistent hard work, evoking self-doubts, and never-give-up attitudes; (b) coaches’/teachers’ socially prescribed expectations, stimulating hard work, and pursuit of approval and opportunities; (c) parental expectations, reflected as helpful support, concerns of letting parents down, and negotiating independence; and (d) struggles with balancing expectations, reflected by demanding workloads, difficulties with prioritizing recovery, and ill-being. Early interventions targeting unhealthy self- and socially imposed expectations in high-expectation settings may be required to safeguard youth performers’ healthy development.

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  • Qualitative research exploring aspects of well-being in adolescent ballet dancers, including identity formation, emotions, expectations, and reasons for dropout, informs the knowledge base.

    “In dance science and education, qualitative research exploring aspects of well-being in adolescent ballet dancers, including identity formation, emotions, expectations, and reasons for dropout, inform the knowledge base. 23-28”

    From “It Feels Kind of Like a Feather”: Perceptions of Well-Being Among Adolescent Ballet Dancers (2026) · cites this paper as [27]

    The Discussion (p. 9) describes a qualitative study of expectations and well-being among adolescents in talent schools, including ballet students. The Results (pp. 5–6) also describe emotional experiences such as self-doubt and disappointment. The paper does not establish identity formation or reasons for dropout as topics it investigated; its mention of preventing attrition in Strengths, Limitations, and Future Research Directions (p. 10) is a proposed use of future research. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • These studies demonstrate that adolescents can thoughtfully articulate their views and experiences that may be related to their well-being.

    “These studies demonstrate that adolescents can thoughtfully articulate their views and experiences that may be related to their well-being.”

    From “It Feels Kind of Like a Feather”: Perceptions of Well-Being Among Adolescent Ballet Dancers (2026) · cites this paper as [27]

  • This study deepens the understanding that this is a population capable of contribution and insight, and worthy of environments that encourage their voices.

    “In building on existing qualitative research in dance that centers adolescent dancers' views, 23-28 this study deepens the understanding that this is a population capable of contribution and insight, and worthy of environments that encourage their voices.”

    From “It Feels Kind of Like a Feather”: Perceptions of Well-Being Among Adolescent Ballet Dancers (2026) · cites this paper as [27]

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Authors
Stornæs, A. V., Sundgot-Borgen, J., Pettersen, G., Rosenvinge, J. H., & Nordin-Bates, S. M.
Affiliations
  • Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NO)
  • UiT The Arctic University of Norway (NO)
  • Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden
ORCID
Venue
The Sport Psychologist
Publisher
Human Kinetics
Published
2023-06-01
Volume
37
Issue
2
Pages
92-105
ISSN
  • 0888-4781 (ISSN-L)
  • 1543-2793
DOI
10.1123/tsp.2022-0133
OpenAlex
W4360971654
Cited by
12
References
78
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2
FWCI
5.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • The Sport Psychologist (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Diva portal (Dalarna University Library) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
National Center for Mental Health
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Music › Diverse Music Education Insights
Keywords
self-expectations, youth athletes, ballet students, music students, sports schools, parental expectations, coach expectations, self-doubt, workload, recovery, ill-being, early adolescence, talent development

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