Beyond Experiential Education: Focusing on Intersectionality of Youth Learners in Organized Sport

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 1:45 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Leveraging Intersectional Identity to Name and Resist Dominant Narratives in Formal and Informal Education Spaces

Abstract

Experiential education, particularly structured youth sport programs, has demonstrated effectiveness in promoting behavioral health and mitigating aggressive and violent behaviors. However, current programmatic approach in experiential education solely focuses on individual behavioral factors. This study investigates how environmental (SES) and individual (attitudes) factors predict physical aggression among college youth in structured sports. Data from 621 participants were analyzed using structural equation modeling to test mediation pathways. Results revealed that SES significantly predicted violent behavior, with attitudes toward violence mediating this relationship. Gender differences in violent attitudes were significant, whereas racial differences were not, aligning with research emphasizing the importance of contextual over demographic predictors. These findings highlight the need for equity-informed experiential education programs that integrate environmental and cognitive components.

Author

• Levone Lee, University of Kentucky