A Qualitative Investigation of Sport Activity Participation and Constraint Negotiation Among African American Endurance Runners

This study examined the role leisure sport activity' constraints and constraint negotiation has on A frican American endurance runners. Past research investigated constraints; however, limited research has been conducted among various important underrepresented groups such as African Americans....

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of sport behavior Vol. 41; no. 1; pp. 64 - 87
Main Authors Rice, Jason A, Hambrick, Marion E, Aicher, Thomas J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Mobile University of South Alabama 01.01.2018
Journal of Sport Behavior
Subjects
African American athletes
African Americans
Athletic ability
Behavior
Census of Population
Demographic aspects
Endurance sports
Ethnicity
Evaluation
Girls
Identity
Leisure
Marathons
Participation
Recreation
Researchers
Runners (Sports)
Running
Running races
Theory
Women
United States
United States > US
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Summary:This study examined the role leisure sport activity' constraints and constraint negotiation has on A frican American endurance runners. Past research investigated constraints; however, limited research has been conducted among various important underrepresented groups such as African Americans. Using semi-structured inlei-views, the findings identified several constraints; limited exposure to the activity, conflicts with maintaining desired physical attributes while pursuing the activity, African American norms influence on activity choice, and cultural isolation. Findings also suggested these endurance runners use a variety of constraint negotiation strategies. These included attempts to change their personal identity and personal appearance, and effort given to generate greater support to accommodate their running pursuits. The findings augment the extant literature by exploring the intersection between serious sport participation and sport activity constraints related to ethnicity, and highlight the importance of personal identity' modifications as a constraint negotiation strategy to facilitate positive running attitudes and behaviors.
ISSN:0162-7341
2641-3477