¶ … 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...

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…