Examining Sense of Self Among College Student Athletes

Abstract

The sense of self of human being and the development of the sense of self has been researched for many years. There has also been research on college student athletes and how college student athletes fit on a college campus compared to traditional students. The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine how the experience of being a college student athlete at a Midwest university influences their sense of self and how their sense of self evolves during the college experience. The study conducted two 90-minute focus group interviews, and the participants in this study were Division II football players. The participants discussed their experiences in college and how those experiences developed their sense of self. The researcher found that challenging experiences and the relationships the college student athletes had with their teammates influenced their sense of self the most. These findings will inform the practices of coaches, athletic administration and university faculty.