Ethnic identity and task value placed on sport by African American youth

Albert Yves Bimper, Purdue University

Abstract

Does ethnic identity play a salient role in the value ethnic minority youth place on sport? Although a large portion of youth sport participation in the United States stems from the participation of youth from various ethnic groups, this is a question not often asked by sport psychology researchers. Therefore to garner a greater understanding of how the psychosocial relationship of significant social agents and ethnic identity may relate to sport motivations, the expectancy value model of achievement behavior (Eccle’s et al., 1983) was used as a theoretical framework for the present study. Specifically, the purpose of this study was to investigate a self ethnic identity mediated relationship between perceived parent ethnic identity expectancies and the value African American youth place on sport. One hundred and eighty African American high school athletes responded to questionnaires measuring their perceptions of parent expectations of ethnic identity development, self ethnic identity beliefs, the global value they place on sport, and the value they place on sport with reference to their ethnic group identification. Regression models were run to test mediation hypotheses (Baron & Kenny, 1986). All participants placed high value on global sport and sport with reference to their ethnic group identification. However, males consistently had higher value than female participants. Mediation tests of female data were not supported by data analyses. Therefore, mediation tests were only pursued with African American male data. The relationship of perceived parent ethnic identity expectancies with the global value males place on sport was not confirmed to be mediated by self ethnic identity of African American males. However, there was support for self ethnic identity of African American males mediating the relationship of perceived parent ethnic identity expectancies with value placed on sport with reference of ethnic group identification. This study provides support for sport psychology researchers to view ethnic identity as an important factor when assessing sport motives. Study implications and future research directions are offered.

Degree

M.S.

Advisors

Smith, Purdue University.

Subject Area

African American Studies|Social psychology|Ethnic studies

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