A Meta-Analytic Investigation on Psychosocial Factors and Academic Achievement of Collegiate Athletes

• In Event: College Athletics: Academic and Organizational Success

Abstract

Administrators, educators, and campus personnel strive for more holistic approaches to improve academic success of collegiate athletes. Moreover, student-athletes are required by the NCAA to maintain academic requirements to participate in athletic events. One salient predictor of achievement in the literature on collegiate athletes is students’ psychosocial factors. We examine relationships between psychosocial factors and academic performance of U.S. collegiate athletes by conducting a meta-analysis of over 45 studies. Psychosocial factors were divided into eight categories: academic motivation, adjustment, athletic identity, athletic motivation, culture & community, self-perceptions, self-regulation, and social support. Preliminary results indicated student-athletes’ academic-related perceptions were the largest correlates to GPA, followed by adjustment and social support. Athletic identity and athletic motivation were not significantly associated with GPA.

Authors

• Agustin J. Garcia, Texas State University

• Carlton J. Fong, Texas State University

• Yvette Regalado, Texas State University