Participation, retention and dropout of children and adolescents in club-based community tennis
- Authors: Unni, Ambili
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Promoting participation in sport to achieve sporting excellence and health outcomes is a national policy of Australia. Organised, club-based sport at community level is important as it provides a pathway to elite sporting success and contributes to health and wellbeing of participants. Dropout from all forms of club-based sports including tennis occurs specifically during adolescence in Australia and internationally. Little is known about the factors that collectively influence this age group in their choice to continue playing club-sport or to drop out. This PhD program of research investigated the trends and determinants of retention and dropout among children and adolescents playing community level club-based tennis in the Australian state of Victoria. The program of research used the socio-ecological model underpinned by Leisure Constraint Theory and Fun Integration Theory to understand the different factors that influence retention. The mixed-methods explanatory sequential research design comprised of two consecutive phases of quantitative study that involved secondary data analysis of state-wide club-tennis participation and an on-line survey that examined the determinants of retention and dropout with a socio-ecological perspective. This was followed by an informed qualitative study to explore the key findings in depth. Players aged 10-18 years who were or had been registered players at tennis clubs in Victoria were invited to participate. Analysis of survey data and interviews identified a range of factors that influence and impact the decision of young players to continue playing club-based tennis or to drop out. The result from this program of research highlighted the two intrapersonal determinants ‘enjoyment’ and ‘competency’ as ‘core’ determinants of young players’ choice to be retained or to drop out. Many previous studies have listed enjoyment and competency and several other socio-ecological factors as determinants influencing retention. This research created new knowledge by explaining how each individual socio-ecological element influenced retention through enhancing or diminishing the two core determinants. Mapping of the interaction of multiple socio-ecological elements in leading to retention or dropout while presenting enjoyment and competency as core determinants is unique. Improving retention in club-based tennis during adolescence is important for maintaining participation as a habit into adulthood. As a practical way to achieve this, factors that are identified in this study as influencing enjoyment and competency can be targeted through interventions at various levels through policies and strategies in delivering club programs, coaching and competition. Competency and enjoyment are interconnected in promoting retention. Increasing access to affordable and good quality coaching promotes enjoyment through improving competency and hence should be prioritised to sustain children’s interest and passion for the game. The knowledge about interconnectivity of several apparently distinct elements reiterates the importance of a holistic approach in sport retention studies. It provides the theoretical backing for strategies aimed at retaining more children and adolescents in organised sport which is important for carrying regular physical activity habit into adulthood and ensuring sustainability of organised sports.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Unni, Ambili
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Promoting participation in sport to achieve sporting excellence and health outcomes is a national policy of Australia. Organised, club-based sport at community level is important as it provides a pathway to elite sporting success and contributes to health and wellbeing of participants. Dropout from all forms of club-based sports including tennis occurs specifically during adolescence in Australia and internationally. Little is known about the factors that collectively influence this age group in their choice to continue playing club-sport or to drop out. This PhD program of research investigated the trends and determinants of retention and dropout among children and adolescents playing community level club-based tennis in the Australian state of Victoria. The program of research used the socio-ecological model underpinned by Leisure Constraint Theory and Fun Integration Theory to understand the different factors that influence retention. The mixed-methods explanatory sequential research design comprised of two consecutive phases of quantitative study that involved secondary data analysis of state-wide club-tennis participation and an on-line survey that examined the determinants of retention and dropout with a socio-ecological perspective. This was followed by an informed qualitative study to explore the key findings in depth. Players aged 10-18 years who were or had been registered players at tennis clubs in Victoria were invited to participate. Analysis of survey data and interviews identified a range of factors that influence and impact the decision of young players to continue playing club-based tennis or to drop out. The result from this program of research highlighted the two intrapersonal determinants ‘enjoyment’ and ‘competency’ as ‘core’ determinants of young players’ choice to be retained or to drop out. Many previous studies have listed enjoyment and competency and several other socio-ecological factors as determinants influencing retention. This research created new knowledge by explaining how each individual socio-ecological element influenced retention through enhancing or diminishing the two core determinants. Mapping of the interaction of multiple socio-ecological elements in leading to retention or dropout while presenting enjoyment and competency as core determinants is unique. Improving retention in club-based tennis during adolescence is important for maintaining participation as a habit into adulthood. As a practical way to achieve this, factors that are identified in this study as influencing enjoyment and competency can be targeted through interventions at various levels through policies and strategies in delivering club programs, coaching and competition. Competency and enjoyment are interconnected in promoting retention. Increasing access to affordable and good quality coaching promotes enjoyment through improving competency and hence should be prioritised to sustain children’s interest and passion for the game. The knowledge about interconnectivity of several apparently distinct elements reiterates the importance of a holistic approach in sport retention studies. It provides the theoretical backing for strategies aimed at retaining more children and adolescents in organised sport which is important for carrying regular physical activity habit into adulthood and ensuring sustainability of organised sports.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Positionality of disengaged students in a rural town
- Authors: Fish, Tim
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis critically analyses the way disengaged youth participating in an alternative education program are positioned within a small rural town, New Goldfields (a pseudonym), a town of 2,300 people in the Wimmera region of Victoria.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Fish, Tim
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis critically analyses the way disengaged youth participating in an alternative education program are positioned within a small rural town, New Goldfields (a pseudonym), a town of 2,300 people in the Wimmera region of Victoria.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Development and evaluation of a pilot program to reduce stigma of mental illness among rural adolescents
- Authors: Newnham, Krystal
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Two forms of stigma – social and self – represent barriers to receiving professional help for rural Australian adolescents with mental health issues. Characteristics of rural communities such as self-reliance, social proximity and social exclusion are thought to compound experiences of stigma, creating a fear of seeking professional help. The aim of this project was to design and evaluate a stigma reduction program for rural secondary school students. A two-stage quasi-experimental research design was developed. Study 1 involved working collaboratively with seven students from a rural secondary school to develop a population specific program. The curriculum development process was evaluated and the final form of the intervention documented. Study 2 involved delivering and evaluating the intervention within the same secondary school. The aim of Study 2 was to decrease adolescents‟ stigma of mental illness, as measured by social and self stigmatic attitudes, desired social distance, and help-seeking intentions. The treatment group comprised students from year 7, 8, 9, and 12, and the control comprised a delayed treatment group of comparable students from these year levels. After accounting for attrition, the treatment group comprised 31 (16 females) participants, and the delayed treatment group 36 participants (16 females). Measures of stigmatic attitudes, desired social distance and help-seeking intentions were taken at pre-, post-, and 12-week follow-up. The intervention comprised two sessions each of 90 minutes spaced one week apart. Focus-group discussions held post-intervention expanded evaluations of the program; and suggested areas for improvement. The first hypothesis, that prior to intervention, adolescent boys would have significantly higher social stigma, self stigma, desired social distance from those with mental illness, and perceived barriers to seeking help than females, was supported. The second hypothesis, that participants in the treatment group would report lower social- and self-stigma, desired social distance, and fewer perceived barriers to seeking help post-intervention than pre-intervention and compared to the control group was supported in part. The third hypothesis, that reductions in social stigma, self stigma, desired social distance, and barriers to seeking help would be maintained at follow-up also received mixed support. Qualitative data confirmed that student attitudes towards those with mental health issues improved slightly; however, it also indicated that more change was possible and provided direction for future programs. Results have implications for anti-stigma campaign development and implementation. Suggestions for developing more effective anti-stigma programs that will help to lift the burden of stigma and to increase help-seeking behaviours for rural youth are discussed.
- Description: Doctor of Psychology
- Authors: Newnham, Krystal
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Two forms of stigma – social and self – represent barriers to receiving professional help for rural Australian adolescents with mental health issues. Characteristics of rural communities such as self-reliance, social proximity and social exclusion are thought to compound experiences of stigma, creating a fear of seeking professional help. The aim of this project was to design and evaluate a stigma reduction program for rural secondary school students. A two-stage quasi-experimental research design was developed. Study 1 involved working collaboratively with seven students from a rural secondary school to develop a population specific program. The curriculum development process was evaluated and the final form of the intervention documented. Study 2 involved delivering and evaluating the intervention within the same secondary school. The aim of Study 2 was to decrease adolescents‟ stigma of mental illness, as measured by social and self stigmatic attitudes, desired social distance, and help-seeking intentions. The treatment group comprised students from year 7, 8, 9, and 12, and the control comprised a delayed treatment group of comparable students from these year levels. After accounting for attrition, the treatment group comprised 31 (16 females) participants, and the delayed treatment group 36 participants (16 females). Measures of stigmatic attitudes, desired social distance and help-seeking intentions were taken at pre-, post-, and 12-week follow-up. The intervention comprised two sessions each of 90 minutes spaced one week apart. Focus-group discussions held post-intervention expanded evaluations of the program; and suggested areas for improvement. The first hypothesis, that prior to intervention, adolescent boys would have significantly higher social stigma, self stigma, desired social distance from those with mental illness, and perceived barriers to seeking help than females, was supported. The second hypothesis, that participants in the treatment group would report lower social- and self-stigma, desired social distance, and fewer perceived barriers to seeking help post-intervention than pre-intervention and compared to the control group was supported in part. The third hypothesis, that reductions in social stigma, self stigma, desired social distance, and barriers to seeking help would be maintained at follow-up also received mixed support. Qualitative data confirmed that student attitudes towards those with mental health issues improved slightly; however, it also indicated that more change was possible and provided direction for future programs. Results have implications for anti-stigma campaign development and implementation. Suggestions for developing more effective anti-stigma programs that will help to lift the burden of stigma and to increase help-seeking behaviours for rural youth are discussed.
- Description: Doctor of Psychology
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