Ten Article Analysis and Summary

¶ … Ar-yuwat, S., Clark, Hunter, & James, (2013). Determinants of physical activity in primary school students using the health belief model. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 119. http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/jmdh.s40876

Thailand experiences a large amount of children that demonstrate inadequate levels of physical activity. Obesity risk increases due to lack of physical activity. The article seeks to understand how primary school aged children observe causes of physical activity. By investigating the impact of perceived barriers, benefits, and cues on levels of physical activity among students of primary school age, the researchers can understand the link between physical inactivity and lack of motivation and other hurdles towards good health. The results suggested participants were significantly influenced by barriers/obstacles such as bad weather, playing outdoors near strangers, and too much coursework/homework. Gender had no impact on physical activity.

The study was a cross-sectional study that had several strengths. The first was using a large sample of participants for their study (123). The second was using a Physical Activity Questionnaire to evaluate student levels of physical activity and so forth. The weakness lies in lack of qualitative data and further qualitative research methods like interviews and personal accounts. Some of the children stated they were afraid to play outside due to strangers lending to a desire to see more analysis of these fears.

This study provides insight into underserved youth and perceived barriers for children from impoverished areas in relation to physical activity and motivation to remain physically active. By providing information on the fears of children from lower socioeconomic groups, programs like junior golf can improve and expand access to underserved youth. People should adopt evaluations such as these in order to understand the motivations and perceived barriers of target groups.

Campbell, J., Cothren, D., Rogers, R., Kistler, L., Osowski, A., Greenauer, N., & End, C.

(2011). Sport fans' impressions of gay male athletes. Journal Of Homosexuality, 58(5), 597-607. doi:10.1080/00918369.2011.563658

The 2011 study examined the image of gay male athletes among sports fans. Via reading a short scenario about these fictional athletes from selected, favorite teams, participants formed their impressions. The scenarios included information that labeled the athletes as straight or gay. They also noted whether the athlete became a distraction or not to the team. The results demonstrated little difference in males' ratings of the fictional athletes. However, with female participants, there was a noted and significant difference. Females' ratings demonstrated more positive impressions of gay athletes versus straight athletes.

This kind of study was qualitative and focused on impressions participants had of fictional athletes. By using the participants' favorite teams and then making up information about a fictional athlete, they were able to get a base impression without favoritism of athletes and whether or not their sexual preference played a role in their judgements of the players. They tried to ascertain information from both male and female participants that allowed further analysis of the subject.

Implications for this study are that perceptions of gay athletes are not as negative as originally perceived. Underserved communities often include homosexual youths. What is thought of a potential weakness in a player is actually viewed as a strength, improving perceptions of homosexuals in youth sports like golf where homosexuality is not really discussed.

Messner, M. (2011). Gender ideologies, youth sports, and the production of soft essentialism. Sociology of Sport Journal, 28(2), 151-170.

Males and females have to deal with divided spheres and existing within said sphere. These societal expectations and hurdles play a role sometimes in the performance of an individual. Sports is a key site for such ideology to prevail. The researchers termed it 'hard essentialism'. However, since the 1970's females have increased their participation in sports and contesting gender relations. This article posits a four-part periodization of both hegemonic and counter-hegemonic gender ideologies extending back fifty years to mid-twentieth century examining youth sports coaches' perceptions of gender and children.

The researchers apply a new term, 'soft essentialism' and contend that youth sports have become a means of constructing soft essentialist narratives appropriating the liberal feminist language of what is labeled as 'choice' for girls and no such thing for boys. This serves to naturalize and recreate class-based inequalities as well as asymmetries. The researchers conclude with outlining developing strategies that spiral from illogicalities of soft essentialism that provide a strong point for further comprehension of the term. Through research analysis of theory coincides with exploration of inequality.

Implications range from understanding existing theory to how such understanding can lead to further examination of gender inequalities. Although people see gender inequality in the sense of females feeling inferior to males in sports, now it is the opposite on some level. Males are left with little options compared to females. This certainly changes traditional view of sports and gender. It also provides evidence for the paper that inequalities exist on varying levels and that underserved youth may lean more towards male populations instead of female.

Bean, E., Whitley, M., & Gould, D. (2014). Athlete impressions of a character-based sports program for underserved youth. Journal Of Sport Behavior, 37(1), 3-23.

A study that analyzed the impact negative and positive of an urban youth sport organization with a main aim of developing character and life skills. There were 23 program participants. Ten were males and thirteen female aged from 10-18 years. The interviews conducted were semi-structured and qualitative with participants interviewed individually. Method used was the constant comparative method and results demonstrated participants found many positives from the program from it being enjoyable, socially rewarding, and inclusive. Other benefits were that participants remained out of trouble and the program helped them stay on track both academically and personally via emphasizing education of life and sport skills. Such evidence supports the idea of sports programs positively serving youth development activity.

The article needed some quantitative data to make it stronger. It was lacking enough structure in the interview questions. However, the qualitative evidence gathered, made for strong support of youth sports programs and confirmed the need for these programs in communities where youth are underserved. Had they compared it to a similar study, it would provide enhanced validation of the kinds of answers given by participants.

This article provides high relevance to the paper because it shows the direct and profound impact sports programs offer underserved youth. More youth sports programs should have questionnaires or interviews with participants not only to see if these programs are effective, but what can be changed to improve it. Further research may do just that. Further research should also include potential barriers to continued participation in such programs.

Kulesza, M., Grossbard, J. R., Kilmer, J., Copeland, A. L., & Larimer, M. E. (2014). Take One for the Team? Influence of Team and Individual Sport Participation on High School Athlete Substance Use Patterns. Journal Of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse, 23(4), 217-223. doi:10.1080/1067828X.2013.786928

This article involves use of a web-based survey assessing the link between individual or team (or both) sport participation as well as tobacco use and self-reported alcohol amid high school athletes transitioning to college. The study included 1,275 participants. Things observed like weekly drinking, Peak Blood Alcohol Concentration, and alcohol-associated issues were expressively lower amid athletes in individual sports. Those that competed in both, reported greater lifetime combined tobacco/alcohol use compared to team sports alone or individual.

Strength in the study came in the form of having a large number of participants evaluated in order to give a more accurate result. However, weaknesses came in the form of using adequate literature to compare the information collected for the results. Some students may use marijuana for medical purposes and the study could have used marijuana as another category as well as prescription drugs. Abuse of prescription drugs is prevalent in the United States. They did however provide sufficient information on identifying the pressure of athletes competing in both individual and team sports.

This article contributes to the paper by understanding further barriers to youth especially athletes transitioning from high school to college. Underserved youth often experience more peer pressure and are exposed to a higher level of bad influence that can lead alcohol and drug abuse. It is important to understand as many barriers to sports participation as possible. Golf is an individual sport, however, it has some team aspects like keeping score. Golf may not be as a big of a stressor as other sports that rely more on physical fitness and therefore, may not lead to alcohol/drug abuse compared to other sports.

Ramirez, E., Kulinna, P., & Cothran, D. (2012). Constructs of physical activity behavior in children: The usefulness of Social Cognitive Theory. Psychology Of Sport And Exercise, 13(3), 303-310. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2011.11.007

This study investigates relationships amidst several Social Cognitive Theory constructs. The study involved 479 children from 6 elementary schools in grades 4-6 from 5 various school districts in the Southwestern area of the United States. Participants finished a sociocognitive instrument along with wearing a pedometer for 5 days to help measure physical activity. The results provided a model that explained fifteen percent in social support, eleven percent in goals, eleven percent in barriers, nine percent in outcome expectations, and two percent in physical activity indicating self-efficacy as a strong predictor of total number of barriers, social support, as well as outcome expectations.

By using Social Cognitive Theory to understand the various constructs of physical activity behavior, they had a strong model to help in analyzing the collected information. The weakness lies in the lack of explanation of the little variance in behaviors and a gap in information environmental influences that may make a child decide to be physically active or not.

Social Cognitive Theory is one of two main theories in the paper. It is important to see application of such theory within the physical activity scenario, especially when it comes to children. Social Cognitive Theory helps provide the model from which to analyze physical activity amongst groups of people, namely youth. However, the study also revealed that it is important to investigate environmental influences as well.

JUN-JIE, T., & CHEN-JUNG, H. (2015). Development of the children's sport locus of control scale. Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal, 43(2), 315-325. doi:10.2224/sbp.2015.43.2.315

The article discusses the CSLCS or Children's Sport Locus of Control Scale. CSLCS is based on Rotter's 1954 social learning theory. The participant group was 750 5th and 6th graders. Via a series of analyses, including confirmatory, exploratory, and additional analyses, the researchers confirmed the good validity, measurement invariance, and reliability of the scale from 12 items on the scale. 6 of the 12 measures are sited for the measurement of children's sport locus of control and do not vary across gender.

The study provided compelling information, but did not apply that information or compare it to other literature. They offered suggestions for future research, however, did not do a good job identifying any gaps in research other than the need for more research. Furthermore, they were not as descriptive on the 12 items of the scale nor did they provide any sufficient qualitative evidence. It did shed light on the usefulness of the scale and what it can measure in terms of children's sport locus of control.

This article is an important addition to the paper because it contributes in understanding more the Children's Sport Locus of Control Scale and children's sport locus of control. This can be used both in the Social Cognitive Theory model as well as the Health Belief model. Youth often have various processes they undergo in order to learn something and become engaged. Scales like these help quantify the data so that the information collected can be analyzed. It also provided a scale from which to use in order to perform a study.

Veliz, P., & Shakib, S. (2012). Interscholastic sports participation and school-based delinquency: does participation in sport foster a positive high school environment? Sociological Spectrum, 32(6), 558-580. doi:10.1080/02732173.2012.700837

This article utilizes cultural spillover and social control theories to gain the framework from which to understand sports programs and their impact on youth within the school environment. Researchers collected information from a nationally representative sample of approximately 1,200 public high schools. They sought to identify the connection among school sports participation rates and analyze in-school delinquent behaviors. Results specify that schools that had a higher proportion of sports participants described pointedly fewer violent crimes and suspensions happening within school grounds. Nevertheless, the occurrence of minor crimes is unconnected to the amount of students engaged in school sports. The results suggest that one way to diminish violence and lawbreaking in schools is via inspiring participation in sports programs.

The sample size was adequate however it would have been better to contain various groups of students, especially underserved youth. Furthermore, the sample included public high schools, but not private high schools. Although private high schools seem like they would have children from higher income families, a lot of these schools are underfunded and contain families that earn less than average. The study did however show the positive correlation between sports program and reduction in delinquent behavior.

This article further supports the idea that sports programs are a great way to help underserved youth stay away from trouble and gain a firm footing in their personal and academic lives. Youth need sports programs as a positive avenue to explore and express emotions and aggressions.

Schuler, J., & Brandstatter, V. (2013). How basic need satisfaction and dispositional motives interact in predicting flow experience in sport. Journal Of Applied Social Psychology, 43(4), 687-705. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2013.01045.x

By integrating motive disposition theory with basic psychological needs method from self-determination theory, this article hypothesizes people become enabled to fulfill base psychological needs for social relatedness and competence from the environment. Moreover, the researchers assume that the result of competence need satisfaction is watered-down by the achievement motive. The researchers note affiliation motive moderates the effect of need-for-relatedness satisfaction. By examining four studies they demonstrate the expected positive effects of need satisfaction on flow. Evidence further settles that affiliation-motivated and high achievement persons benefit more from capability and affinity sports environments, respectively, versus persons that are low in these motives.