Citizen-Athlete: The Relationship Between Community Service and Athletic Identity

• In Event: 72.048 - Roundtable Session 33
  In Roundtable Session: 72.048-15 - Life After Sport: What Happens When It's Over?

Abstract

Student-athletes who possess a strong athletic identity face the arduous task of finding a greater balance between academics and athletics, which often takes years to decelerate and re-align towards academics and their career interests. Alternatively, college students fervently report performing community service as being their most fulfilling experience in their college experience. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between athletic identity and motivations/benefits to perform community service for NCAA student-athletes. Results show a negative, non-statistically significant relationship between athletic identity and community service (a) motivations and (b) benefits. While the finding was not statistically significant, the results show promise of highlighting a potential academic activity that is not adversely impacted by a student-athlete’s athletic identity.

Authors

• Matt Ryan Huml, Texas Tech University

• Meg G Hancock, University of Louisville

• Mary A Hums, University of Louisville