| Recreational sport participation has been promoted as a way for college students to connect to the campus community, improve overall physical health, and moderate anxiety and stress. However, limited research has been conducted with racial and ethnic minority students at colleges and universities in the United States to determine if their experiences are similar to those of the majority population. In this study, a national sample of African American undergraduates (n=150) attending historically White institutions in the United States was surveyed to assess interest in specific recreational sport activities and describe their overall experiences with campus recreation. In addition, 16 face-to-face interviews were conducted with African American undergraduates who attend a historically White university in the Southeastern United States to gain perspectives about the importance of campus recreation to their overall college experience. Results supported the expectation that campus recreational programs and services play an important role in helping students establish social connections, transition to the university, and feel a greater sense of campus belonging. Survey results showed that African American undergraduates at historically White colleges and universities have a wide variety of recreational sport interests, and results from interviews revealed that media images, parent socialization, and early involvement in recreation play an important role in shaping beliefs about the importance of recreation and sport activities generally. Findings from this study also indicate that levels of interest in outdoor activities such as rock climbing, kayaking, and camping may be of greater interest than previous literature may suggest, although levels of interest in outdoor recreation still appear to be lower among African Americans when compared to White student peers. Underlying reasons for specific patterns of leisure involvement are discussed along with implications for recreation and sport literature related to race and socioeconomic status, along with potential strategies for developing greater levels of inclusion in campus recreation programs at historically White colleges and universities. |
