Date of Award:
12-2024
Document Type:
Dissertation
Degree Name:
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department:
Human Development and Family Studies
Committee Chair(s)
Travis E. Dorsch
Committee
Travis E. Dorsch
Committee
Aryn M. Dotterer
Committee
Shawn D. Whiteman
Committee
Christy Glass
Committee
Michael Steven Williams
Abstract
Youth sport is a ubiquitous extracurricular activity in the United States (Dorsch et al., 2022). Participation rates among Black adolescent boys are relatively high compared to other minoritized groups. However, few studies have examined their experiences in youth sport. Therefore, this dissertation explored the experiences, behaviors, and processes of Black adolescent boys in youth sport using a multimethod approach. Study 1 included interviews with 10 Black adolescent boys from a Midwest school district. Meanwhile, Study 2 gathered insights from six parents, three coaches, and four school administrators, highlighting the experiences of Black adolescent boys through key social agents. Collectively, the results highlight that sport can serve as an environment that helps Black boys escape their realities, buffer against negative stressors commonly associated with adolescence, and validate their need to belong. However, sport can also exacerbate racialized stressors and reinforce stereotypes about sport as a means of upward mobility. Key social agents are necessary to facilitate earnest conversations about the role of sport. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the marginalized voices of Black adolescent boys in youth sport, offering scholars and practitioners insights to create a more conscious, supportive environment that fosters belonging and promotes their potential to thrive.
Recommended Citation
Hardiman, Amand L., ""Looking at it From Their Perspective": Understanding the Experiences of Black Adolescent Boys in Youth Sport" (2024). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present. 392.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd2023/392
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