Risk-Taking Behaviors Among Division II Male Intercollegiate Athletes and Athletic Teams: A Comparison of Team Sport and Individual Sport Risk

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 14
  In Roundtable Session: Division II, Transitions, and Support Systems Within Athletics

Abstract

This study focuses on Division II male intercollegiate student athletes in the same athletic conference, and assesses student athletes and their participation and engagement in high-risk behaviors pertaining to alcohol use, drug use, and sexual behavior and determines if team sport or individual sport athletes engage in more risk-taking behaviors. Data collection aimed to answer why student athletes take risks, identify factors that influence decision-making, and focus on which groups engage in the most risk-taking behaviors. This study attempted to find a relationship between participation in intercollegiate athletics and risk-taking behaviors, as well as, identifying specific risk-taking behaviors and factors that are statistically significant to team type.

Authors

• Matthew Frank Kerch, The University of Alabama

• Nathaniel J. Bray, The University of Alabama