Exploring African American mother/daughter dyads: Perceptions, beliefs, values and parental influence on physical activity and sport

Using Eccles comprehensive model of parental influences on their children's motivation and achievement, the purpose of this study was to explore African American Mothers' and Daughters' perceptions, values, and cultural views regarding maternal influences on daughters' participation in physical activity and sport. The second purpose was to explore the value African American mothers and their adolescent daughters place on physical activity and sport participation. The third purpose was to gain a better understanding of the mothers' and daughters' social perceptions of what activities are culturally appropriate and or more appealing for themselves and their daughters and the role culture plays in their choice to participate or not in PA and sports. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with African American mother daughter dyads.;The subjective task value associated with an activity is comprised of utility value, interest value, attainment value, and cost (Eccles & Harold, 1991). Each of the four types of value identified by Eccles' theory was supported by the data in this study. It was also clear that daughters perceived that their mothers did have expectations when it came to their participation in sports and physical activities and that these expectations were effort based. It was also evident that daughters felt encouragement especially once engaged in a sport or physical activity. Mothers' influence on theirs daughters' participation in sport or physical activity Eccles' comprehensive model regarding Parents' general beliefs, Parents' child specific beliefs, and Parents' specific behaviors. Lastly, mothers' perceptions on culturally appropriate/appealing activities for their daughters were categorized as white sports, black sports, and appropriate characteristics. In contrast, daughters' perceptions were categorized as not appropriate sports, appropriate sports, and characteristics.