Socialization of school-aged females into sport and fitness activity within the family constellation

The purpose of the present study was to examine the dynamics of the sport socialization process within the family constellation for school-aged females, with a special focus on differentiating the experiences of participants and nonparticipants. Five aspects of the socialization process were examined: (1) nature of encouragement and discouragement provided by family members for daughters' sport participation, (2) perceptions of daughters and their parents relative to the gender appropriateness of sport, (3) extent to which daughters' participation could be predicted by family context variables, (4) reasons for daughters' nonparticipation and the relationship of these reasons to selected family context variables, and (5) relationship of reasons for nonparticipation to daughters' age. Data for this study were from a 1987 nationwide telephone interview conducted by the Women's Sports Foundation and the Wilson Sporting Goods Company. A total of 695 parents and 344 school-aged daughters were included in the analyses. Statistical procedures utilized to address the five research questions included logistic and multiple regression, correlation analysis, and factor analysis. Results indicated that encouragement within the family was a more significant predictor of daughters' sport participation than the presence of discouragement for participation. The mother played a more prominent role in reinforcing daughters' sport participation than did other family members. Perceptions relative to the gender appropriateness of sport were not related to sport participation. Family encouragement and parents' past and present involvement in sport were significant factors in differentiating daughters who were participants and nonparticipants. Lack of interest in sport and fitness activity was identified as an important reason for daughters' nonparticipation. Parents' level of education and family income were significant in predicting reasons for nonparticipation. Daughters' age was significantly related to interest reasons for nonparticipation. Findings provided support for the social learning theory in that the sport role is learned by observing the behaviors of significant others and through receiving encouragement from family members.