<p>Athletes’ health in relation to sport participation has been rather unexplored from a holistic perspective. The objectives of this study were: a) to test the modified version of the Perceived Health & Sport Participation Profile (PHSPP) Questionnaire; b) to examine the relationship between athletes’ perceived health, sport satisfaction, goal orientation, athletic identity, self-esteem and physical self perception. The Perceived Health & Sport Participation model (PH&SP) (Stambulova, Johnson, Lindwal & Hinic, 2006) was used as theoretical framework. A package of five instruments was completed by 136 competitive athletes representing different sports and levels. A test-re-test was conducted on the PHSPP with 34 athletes. Descriptive statistics, factor analyses, oneway ANOVA and correlation analyses by SPSS were employed to analyze data. The results supported the PH&SP model in much but also suggested that the questionnaire still can be improved. Factor analyses resulted in eight extracted factors explaining 55.92% of the total variance. Based on factor analyses and the PH&SP-model, eight transformed component variables were created. Test-re-test reliability for these was good. The study also confirmed that there are significant relationships between the transformed component variables of the PHSPP, athletic identity, goal orientation, self-esteem and physical self perception. The results are discussed with reference to previous research and the PH&SP-model.</p>

Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

Athletes’ health in relation to sport participation has been rather unexplored from a holistic perspective. The objectives of this study were: a) to test the modified version of the Perceived Health & Sport Participation Profile (PHSPP) Questionnaire; b) to examine the relationship between athletes’ perceived health, sport satisfaction, goal orientation, athletic identity, self-esteem and physical self perception. The Perceived Health & Sport Participation model (PH&SP) (Stambulova, Johnson, Lindwal & Hinic, 2006) was used as theoretical framework. A package of five instruments was completed by 136 competitive athletes representing different sports and levels. A test-re-test was conducted on the PHSPP with 34 athletes. Descriptive statistics, factor analyses, oneway ANOVA and correlation analyses by SPSS were employed to analyze data. The results supported the PH&SP model in much but also suggested that the questionnaire still can be improved. Factor analyses resulted in eight extracted factors explaining 55.92% of the total variance. Based on factor analyses and the PH&SP-model, eight transformed component variables were created. Test-re-test reliability for these was good. The study also confirmed that there are significant relationships between the transformed component variables of the PHSPP, athletic identity, goal orientation, self-esteem and physical self perception. The results are discussed with reference to previous research and the PH&SP-model.

This study is a qualitative examination of my lived experiences and the lived experiences of my immediate family in sport. Using critical race theory (CRT) as my guiding theoretical framework, this research project answers Denzin’s (2003) call to advance “a radical performative social science” that “confront[s] and transcend[s] the problems surrounding the colour line in the 21st century” (p.5). As such, the purpose of this project was to explore issues of race, culture and power within our lived sport experiences and to present these experiences in such way so as to unpack the tensions associated with being an Aboriginal person living in today’s Canadian society.

This study is a qualitative examination of my lived experiences and the lived experiences of my immediate family in sport. Using critical race theory (CRT) as my guiding theoretical framework, this research project answers Denzin’s (2003) call to advance “a radical performative social science” that “confront[s] and transcend[s] the problems surrounding the colour line in the 21st century” (p.5). As such, the purpose of this project was to explore issues of race, culture and power within our lived sport experiences and to present these experiences in such way so as to unpack the tensions associated with being an Aboriginal person living in today’s Canadian society.

ABSTRACT SEX DIFFERENCES IN VISUAL REACTION TIME: EFFECT OF SPORT PARTICIPATION AND DRIVING Tanyel, Emine &Ouml / zge M.S., Department of Physical Education and Sport Supervisor: Y. Do&ccedil / . Dr. Sadettin Kirazci July 2007, 84 pages The purpose of this study is to investigate whether sport participation and driving has any effect on the differences between sexes in visual reaction time (RT). There were three groups (control, exercise, driver), and 20 males and 20 females in each group. The sport participation group was athletes from taekwondo were training at least for five years, minimum three days per week throughout the year. The driver group was males and females were working as representatives of companies and driving at least 20.000 km. annually for the last four years. Each participant was asked to read and sign informed consent and information form at the beginning of the study. Participants were measured three times for simple visual RT, simple visual RT with movement, two and three visual choices RTs for both hands. Descriptive statistics was performed for the four measures according to the groups and sexes. Group and sex differences were examined with MANOVA. The result indicated statistically significant interaction between sex and group for both hands in favor of males for most of the comparisons. Significant differences were also found between three groups and between two sexs for both hands. This study indicated that long term sport participation requiring visual information and driving extensively shorten visual reaction of the participants compared to their counterparts who were not acting in sport and driving.

This dissertation explores the culture of sport among African American male football players as well as African American perspectives on sport and success. A case study of six African American, Division 1 FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) collegiate student athletes was conducted along with seventeen supplemental interviews with community members, parents, coaches and former athletes and fans. The participants answered questions that explored education, success, identity construction, ethnicity and sport. Archival data was also reviewed framing the discussion on football in Florida, links between education and sport participation and African American male academic achievement. While many perspectives varied, there were collective trends in relation to how African American Athletes in Florida define themselves as well as their perspectives on ethnicity and sport. The individual perspectives and collective trends are discussed in this dissertation.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether young black adults who participate in sport differ in psychological well-being and psychosocial development from those who do not participate actively in sport. An availability sample of 293 students between 20 and 35 years old from three tertiary institutions in South Africa completed self-report measures of psychological well-being and psychosocial development. Reliability and validity of instruments were acceptable for use in this particular group. Students who participate actively in sport had significantly lower levels of negative affect, somatic symptoms, symptoms of depression and pessimistic life orientation, and significantly higher levels of positive affect, sense of coherence and self-efficacy beliefs. They also manifested higher levels of purpose and autonomy. Educational and policy implications of findings are indicated. Key words: Sport participation, physical activity, psychological well-being, psychosocial development, students, and young black adults / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether young black adults who participate in sport differ in psychological well-being and psychosocial development from those who do not participate actively in sport. An availability sample of 293 students between 20 and 35 years old from three tertiary institutions in South Africa completed self-report measures of psychological well-being and psychosocial development. Reliability and validity of instruments were acceptable for use in this particular group. Students who participate actively in sport had significantly lower levels of negative affect, somatic symptoms, symptoms of depression and pessimistic life orientation, and significantly higher levels of positive affect, sense of coherence and self-efficacy beliefs. They also manifested higher levels of purpose and autonomy. Educational and policy implications of findings are indicated. Key words: Sport participation, physical activity, psychological well-being, psychosocial development, students, and young black adults / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

Adventure sport participation numbers have significantly increased over the period of the past ten years; it has been suggested that the emergence of an experience economy, where experiences have more value than possessions, could be a key factor for this increase. Motivations for taking part in an adventure sport activity varies between participants, and perhaps even more so than those motivations that were expressed by participants’ pre-experience economy. There are a number of theories about increased participant numbers; for example, the type of demographic, how they approach participation, and approximate suggestions of how the trend for experiences rather than possessions will evolve in the future. However, there is little that explores the experiences of these newer participants, how they behave, and how they are being received by the adventure sport industry. Additionally, there is no evidence to suggest a definite understanding of the needs and requirements of these participants, nor has an investigation been conducted to measure how well the industry is meeting these. Likewise, the potential to adapt existing provision, to expose untapped opportunities, appears unconsidered, and therefore may have benefit for both providers and participants. This study took its lead from using a process of problematization, whereby the problem is explored, identified and defined by the designer(s), rather than presented to them to solve. Using this approach, a hybrid methodologies model was designed and tested to explore the perceptions and experiences of adventure sport participants, to identify any changes that may be occurring as a result of the experience economy and increased numbers of participants taking up an adventure sport activity. Immersive ethnographic and qualitative methods were implemented to better understand identified changes and issues, and quantitative methods were used to elaborate on, confirm and validate the findings. By doing this it was also possible to establish the efficacy of taking a lived experience approach to identifying and exploring emergent and currently unaddressed issues. The study identified three key themes of interest to adventure sport participants: provision of information, ability to accurately assess skill level and participate safely, and being a part of the adventure sport community. These emerging themes were problematizated, validated, and a process of co-design and ideation was used to establish and suggest a solution that could be implemented by the industry to solve the identified issues. This study highlights the potential of using lived experiences to identify a problem, and employs new mixed methodologies to develop a better understanding of critical factors occurring within a specific industry and its associated communities. The study uses this knowledge to generate a designed solution. The theories and methods discussed by the study have transferable values, and could be used within a wide range of other subject areas, being especially useful when a hypothesis proves difficult to identify and define at the outset of a study.