Significant others influence on socialization into sport of Kenya secondary school athletes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of significant others in socialization into sports of secondary school athletes in Kenya. Data were collected through questionnaire from 636(320 males and 316 females) purposely selected from forty (40) secondary schools in Kenya. Data were analysed through chi-square rest of independent measures and student t-test findings revealed that 500(7.8 61%)ofthe athletes took part in sport while in primary school as opposed to /36(2.1 4%)who did not take part with 110 gender differences. It was apparent that there were significant differences (p<.05) between male and female athletes on their initial entry into sport. Findings also revealed that a majority of 546(85.80%) of the athletes had their family members participate in sport while 90(14.20%) of the athletes family members did not participate in sport with no gender differences (p<.05). the influence of significant others in socialization into sport is mostly by the coach, followed by friends, P.E. teachers, brothers, father, sisters and the mother with significant differences (p<.05) between male and female athletes. It was recommended that parents needed to encourage their siblings to participate in sport and P.E. teachers and coaches needed to refocus on their roles in sport socialization into sport of secondary school athletes in Kenya.