Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Counseling Psychology

Committee Chair

Rosie Phillips Davis

Committee Member

Suzanne H Lease

Committee Member

Owen R Lightsey

Committee Member

Jia Wei Zhang

Abstract

Inequality and discrimination occur within college athletics as well as in general society. As a result, collegiate athletes are increasingly engaging in social justice advocacy. The present study builds on the growing body of research on the development of social justice commitment through a social-cognitive model but adds an additional variable of perceived discrimination as many athletes represent populations that have been discriminated against based on race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or other identities. Using a sample of 128 NCAA Division I, II, and III student-athletes in a variety of sports, results supported utilizing the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) model to explain collegiate student-athletes’ social justice interest and commitment. Although, perceived discrimination did not have a direct relationship with social justice commitment, it was related to social justice self-efficacy and social justice interests and indirect effects on commitment. The present study provides novel findings that demonstrate the direct and indirect effects in which perceived discrimination relate to social justice self-efficacy, social justice interests, and social justice commitment. Study limitations, future directions, and implications for facilitating social justice commitment for student-athletes are discussed.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest.

Notes

Open Access

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