The Impact of Team Cohesion on the Social Prestige of Competitive Sports Clubs in Chinese Universities

Liwen  Cui; Sujin  Butdisuwan

doi:10.60027/iarj.2026.e293407

Authors

Liwen Cui Faculty of Education Shinawatra University, Thailand https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7045-8234
Sujin Butdisuwan Faculty of Education Shinawatra University, Thailand https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3551-1865

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60027/iarj.2026.e293407

Keywords:

Team Cohesion, Perceived External Prestige, University Sports Clubs, Mixed-methods, China

Abstract

Background and Aim: University sports clubs contribute to student development and institutional reputation, yet the link between team cohesion and clubs’ perceived external prestige remains underexamined in China. This study tests whether team cohesion is associated with higher perceived external prestige among competitive sports clubs in Chinese universities.

Methodology: The total population size is 2,777 members. According to the Krejcie and Morgan Table, when the population size N=2,777, the recommended sample size S=338.This study plans to sample 338 participants, exceeding the recommended sample size, ensuring the sample's diversity and representativeness. For this study's quantitative survey, questionnaire data will be collected from 338 participants, including club members, captains, and coaches. The questionnaire will be used primarily to measure levels of team cohesion and social prestige.

Results: The Mean and Standard Deviation of the Current Team Cohesion of Competitive Sport Clubs in Chinese Universities. As in the table of contents, by analyzing the descriptive statistics of each variable, this paper can further reveal the characteristics of respondents' ratings on different dimensions and provide a basis for subsequent analyses

Conclusion: Cohesive teams are perceived as more prestigious externally, particularly in team sport clubs. Strengthening communication, shared goals, and supportive climates may thus enhance clubs’ reputational capital and access to resources.

References

Ahong, T., & Mahamud, T. (2022). Creating classroom leaders of education institutions in the 21st century. Journal of Legal Entity Management and Local Innovation, 8(2), 405–418.

Ben-Naim, E., Vazquez, F., & Redner, S. (2006). On the structure of competitive societies. The European Physical Journal B – Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, 49(4), 531–538.

Black, A., Smith, R., & Thomas, J. (2019). Emotional cohesion and team resilience in competitive sports. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 31(3), 267–283. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2018.1509234

Chang, C. H., Duck, J. M., & Bordia, P. (2006). Understanding the multidimensionality of group cohesion in sports teams. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 10(4), 272–286. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2699.10.4.272

Christie, A. M., Jordan, P. J., & Troth, A. C. (2015). Trust, affect, and performance in teams. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 36(9), 1251–1268. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2025

Chu, M. P. (2015). Beyond status and prestige: Chinese cities bid for the Summer World University Games. Sport in Society, 18(6), 704–716.

Evans, A. B., Piggott, D., & Manley, A. (2024). Shared identity and team engagement in elite sports: Revisiting cohesion. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 22(2), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2022.2084235

Hayhoe, R. (2016). China’s universities and the open door. Routledge.

Kao, C., Wu, J., & Lin, M. (2019). Team trust and cohesion in high-pressure sports environments. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 17(3), 256–272. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2017.1421684

Knoppers, A. (2015). Assessing the sociology of sport: On critical sport sociology and sport management. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 50(4–5), 496–501.

Li, Y., Wang, H., & Chen, L. (2023). Leadership styles, trust, and team cohesion in sports teams. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 47(2), 178–196. https://doi.org/10.1177/01937235221123456

López-Gajardo, C. (2023). Conflict management and cohesion in professional basketball teams. European Sport Management Quarterly, 23(1), 85–103. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2021.1997032

Mach, M., Dolan, S. L., & Tzafrir, S. S. (2010). The differential effect of team members’ trust on team performance: The mediation role of team cohesion. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 83(3), 771–794. https://doi.org/10.1348/096317909X471939

Mayer, R. C., Davis, J. H., & Schoorman, F. D. (1995). An integrative model of organizational trust. Academy of Management Review, 20(3), 709–734. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1995.9508080335

Paffenbarger, R. S., & Lee, I. M. (1998). A natural history of athleticism, health and longevity. Journal of Sports Sciences, 16(sup1), 31–45.

Qiu, J., Li, L., & Zhai, S. (2022). Cultural challenges and countermeasures in the construction of campus culture in colleges and universities. Forest Chemicals Review, 569–579.

Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2016). Organizational behavior (17th ed.). Pearson Education.

Stidder, G., & Hayes, S. (Eds.). (2011). The really useful physical education book. Routledge.

Tan, T. C., & Bairner, A. (2010). Globalization and Chinese sport policy: The case of elite football in the People’s Republic of China. The China Quarterly, 203, 581–600.

Ye, B., Lei, X., Yang, J., Byrne, P. J., Jiang, X., Liu, M., & Wang, X. (2021). Family cohesion and social adjustment of Chinese university students: The mediating effects of sense of security and personal relationships. Current Psychology, 40(4), 1872–1883.