Abstract
Collegiate athletics are an important part of many institutions of higher education. While prior research exists that focuses on both the benefits for student-athletes who participate in athletics, such as the development of life skills and the costs of participating, such as higher stress and potential for campus isolation, the majority of research examines Division I athletics. Division III programs are academically driven, with an emphasis on balancing the dual role of both scholar and athlete. Furthermore, Asian American students make up a growing proportion of campus demographics and should be researched because of existing stereotypes that may deem Asian American students as successful without an in-depth examination of their lived experiences. This qualitative study investigates the ways Division III Asian American student-athletes experience a sense of belonging on campus. More specifically, this study explores the way that student-athlete identity can foster belonging for racial minorities. Exploring the experiences of student-athletes from various NCAA Division III programs, the study collected and analyzed interviews. The interviews reveal that participation in collegiate athletics programs can strengthen social support thus, fostering a sense of belonging for Asian American student-athletes and in turn, enhancing their overall well-being.
Presenters
Amanda Yu NguyenDirector, Center for Healthful Living, Oxford College of Emory University, Georgia, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Health Promotion and Education
KEYWORDS
Asian Americans, College Athletics, Sense Of Belonging, Intercollegiate Athletics, NCAA
