Abstract
To examine the potential role that identifying with the athletics teams on campus as fan exerted upon a student’s level of academic and social integration, an online survey instrument was distributed to college students (N=1790) at four large, public research universities. Results indicated that fan identification significantly detracted from one’s grade point average. However, the extent to which one maintained that fan identity significantly contributed to the student’s academic and social integration level. Ultimately, though, the students’ perceived sense of community was found to mediate the relationship between fan identification and academic and social integration. Results suggest that the role that college athletics continue to maintain in the academic and social experiences of the overall college campus is significant. Further, this relationship is one with dynamic consequences and is a relationship that requires a more thorough revisiting of policy governing the maintenance of today’s intercollegiate athletics presence.
Recommended Citation
Clopton, Aaron W.
(2009)
"One for the Team: Exploring the Relationship Between College Sport, Campus Community, and Academic Social Integration,"
Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics: Vol. 2:
Iss.
2, Article 3.
Available at:
https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/jiia/vol2/iss2/3