Participation Constraints and Mitigation Strategies of University Student-Athletes in Selected Sports in Kenya
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Date
2023-11
Authors
Ndirangu, Daniel Kiongo
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Participation in sports plays an important role in university students’ life, such as the development of a healthy lifestyle and promotion of education. However, there is low participation in sports in universities which may be due to various constraints, experienced or perceived by university students. The purpose of this study was to examine constraints hindering the university students-athletes participation in sports activities and the negotiation strategies they use or can be used to overcome sports participation constraints. The study used a cross-sectional survey design and questionnaires to collect data. Respondents were male (n=198) and female (n=191) student athletes from 4 (13%) public and 3 (17%) private universities in Kenya, participating in six selected sports. T-tests, One-way analysis of variance and correlation of coefficient were used to test the hypotheses of the study at 0.05 level of significance The findings indicated that participation in sports was mostly affected by structural constraints (M= 4.28 SD= 0.75) and least affected by social cultural constraints (M=3.09, SD= 1.20). The sports participation negotiation strategies that were used most by student-athletes were intrapersonal strategies (M= 4.10, SD= 0.84) while time management strategies were least used (M= 3.25, SD= 0.44). There were significant mean differences between male and female student-athletes in regard to structural constraints, (t = -2.21, p=0.03) and interpersonal constraints t = 1.14, p = 0.02). There was a significant difference of private and public institutions with regard to structural (t = .39, p=0.01) and intrapersonal constraints (t = 0.69, p=0.03). There was a significant difference between male and female athletes in the strategies of skill acquisition (t= 0.05, p = 0.02), financial management (t= -0.50, p = 0.04) and intrapersonal (t= -0.88, p = 0.03). Concerning the type of institution and negotiation strategies, there was a significant difference in interpersonal strategies (t = -.23, p=0.03), financial management strategies (t = -1.42, p=0.00), and time management strategies (t = 1.33, p=0.02). Results regarding the type of sport indicated that basketball players were the most constrained while volleyball players were the least constrained (F=4.347, p<0.05). Female students significantly experienced more constraints than male student-athletes. Student athletes from public universities experienced more constraints than those from private universities, whereas the use of negotiation strategies was higher in private universities compared to public university. The study recommended Kenyan universities to put in place programs and structures as opposed to merely unstructured university sports. Universities should encourage students to use sports facilities by coming up with more facilities and favorable environment. University students’ participation in sports should be enhanced in order to reduce the constraints that hinder them. A longitudinal study is recommended to investigate sports participation constraints and negotiation strategies of student athletes throughout their campus life.
Description
A Research Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Masters of Science (Recreation and Sports Management) in the School of Business, Economic and Tourism, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya, November 2023.
Keywords
Participation Constraints, Mitigation Strategies, University Student-Athletes, Sports, Kenya