Poster #125 - The Impact of Team Sports on Social Attitudes

• In Event: Poster Session II (posters 80 – 155)

Abstract

Research on athletics and student development has increasingly examined how sport participation shapes peer environments, social norms, and attitudes during adolescence and the transition to college. Building on this work, the present study examines the relationship between athletic participation and broader social attitudes among first-semester university students.Using survey data from 685 first-year college students, this study examines whether athletic participation is associated with differences in attitudes related to interpersonal conduct, accountability, and social norms.Multivariate analyses indicate that students involved in athletics report significantly different attitudinal patterns than non-athletes, with the strongest effects observed among participants in team sports. These relationships remain significant after accounting for demographic and social background characteristics. Findings suggest that highly group-oriented athletic environments may reinforce normative beliefs that extend beyond sport participation itself.This study contributes to broader discussions of campus climate, student socialization, and the role of extracurricular institutions in shaping attitudes during emerging adulthood. Findings have implications for student engagement efforts, prevention programming, and future research examining peer culture and organizational environments within higher education.

Authors

• Christine L. Arazan, Northern Arizona University

• Michael T. Costelloe, Northern Arizona University

• Matthew S. Crow, University of West Florida