Fostering Student-Athletes' Sense of Belonging: An Examination of Background Characteristics, Student Involvement, and Campus Climate

• In Event: Cultural and Contextual Influences at the Intersection of Education and Sport: Obstacles or Opportunities?

Abstract

Although higher education research underscores the importance of sense of belonging (SoB) for students’ academic success and degree completion, research on the development and impact of SoB for student-athletes is limited. Informed by Astin’s (1993) Input-Environment-Output (I-E-O) model and Tinto’s (1994) theory of student departure, this study seeks to expand existing scholarship by examining the influence of academic/social experiences and college climate on student-athletes’ SoB. Analysis of NCAA Growth, Opportunity, Aspirations and Learning of Students in College (GOALS) survey data obtained from a sample of Division I student-athletes revealed significant differences in SoB across gender, race/ethnicity, and college sport. Additionally, numerous academic and social experiences, as well as team and campus climate dimensions, are associated with student-athlete SoB.

Authors

• Joy Gaston Gayles, North Carolina State University

• Rebecca Crandall, North Carolina State University

• Shauna Morin, North Carolina State University