The role of sport on the self-esteem of underprivileged adolescents

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the role of sport in enriching the self-esteem of underprivileged adolescents. The research was based on in-depth interviews with underprivileged adolescents who participate in sports programs, as well as coaches who work with this population. Through the process of thematic analysis, the study uncovers how involvement in sports can positively impact the self-esteem of underprivileged adolescents by providing opportunities for skill development, social connection, and a sense of accomplishment. The first theme, Sport Activities’ Influence on Wellbeing, highlights the importance of the notion that engaging in sports and physical activities has shown to have numerous benefits for both physical and mental health. As such, it places emphasis on finding activities that are enjoyable, gratifying, and sustainable with the intention of reaping the many benefits that sports and physical activities have to offer. The second theme, Adolescence’s social network influence, suggests that adolescents are highly influenced by their social networks, which can include friends, family, classmates, and other peers. These influences can impact various aspects of an adolescent's life, including their behavior, attitudes, beliefs, and decision-making. As such, it becomes vital that parents, teachers, and other adults are aware of these influences and provide the relevant guidance and support to help adolescents navigate their social relationships in a healthy and positive manner. x The third theme, Process of Sport Participation, typically encompasses several stages, from initial involvement to continued involvement in sports activities. This is due to various factors which can have influence on an individual, such as, personal motivation, family support, access to facilities and resources, coaching quality, and the influence of injuries or other life changes. Furthermore, the findings emphasize the importance of sports as a tool for empowerment as well as self-improvement among marginalized youth in the South African context. This research contributes to the understanding of the potential benefits of sports programs for underprivileged adolescents and provides insights for educators, coaches, and policymakers on how to support the self-esteem of this vulnerable population. Organized sporting activities not only offer a safe and structured environment for adolescents but also serve as a vehicle for social inclusion and personal development. The perceptions collected from the participants emphasize the transformative ability of sports in promoting a positive sense of self-worth and accomplishment among underprivileged adolescents. In conclusion, the study highlights the significant positive impact that sport participation can have on the self-esteem of underprivileged adolescents, emphasizing the importance of access to sports programs for this demographic. This research demonstrates the need for continued support and investment in sports initiatives for underprivileged communities to help nurture confidence and resilience in young individuals.

Hierdie kwalitatiewe studie ondersoek die rol van sport in die verryking van die selfbeeld van minderbevoorregte adolessente. Die navorsing was gebaseer op in-diepte onderhoude met minderbevoorregte adolessente wat aan sportprogramme deelneem, sowel as afrigters wat met hierdie bevolking werk. Deur die proses van tematiese analise ontbloot die studie hoe betrokkenheid by sport die selfbeeld van minderbevoorregte adolessente positief kan beïnvloed deur geleenthede vir vaardigheidsontwikkeling, sosiale konneksie en 'n gevoel van prestasie te bied. Die eerste tema, Sport Activities’ Influence on Wellbeing, beklemtoon die belangrikheid van die idee dat deelname aan sport en fisiese aktiwiteite getoon het dat dit talle voordele vir beide fisiese en geestelike gesondheid inhou. As sodanig plaas dit klem op die vind van aktiwiteite wat aangenaam, verblydend en volhoubaar is met die doel om die vele voordele wat sport en fisiese aktiwiteite bied, te pluk. Die tweede tema, Adolescence se sosiale netwerk invloed, dui daarop dat adolessente hoogs beïnvloed word deur hul sosiale netwerke, wat vriende, familie, klasmaats en ander eweknieë kan insluit. Hierdie invloede kan verskeie aspekte van 'n adolessent se lewe beïnvloed, insluitend hul gedrag, houdings, oortuigings en besluitneming. As sodanig word dit noodsaaklik dat ouers, onderwysers en ander volwassenes bewus is van hierdie invloede en die relevante leiding en ondersteuning bied om adolessente te help om hul sosiale verhoudings op 'n gesonde en positiewe manier te navigeer. Die derde tema, Proses van Sportdeelname, sluit tipies verskeie stadiums in, van aanvanklike betrokkenheid tot voortgesette betrokkenheid by sportaktiwiteite. Dit is as gevolg van verskeie faktore wat invloed op 'n individu kan hê, soos persoonlike xii motivering, gesinsondersteuning, toegang tot fasiliteite en hulpbronne, afrigtingskwaliteit en die invloed van beserings of ander lewensveranderinge. Verder beklemtoon die bevindinge die belangrikheid van sport as 'n instrument vir bemagtiging sowel as selfverbetering onder gemarginaliseerde jeug in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Hierdie navorsing dra by tot die begrip van die potensiële voordele van sportprogramme vir minderbevoorregte adolessente en bied insigte vir opvoeders, afrigters en beleidmakers oor hoe om die selfbeeld van hierdie kwesbare bevolking te ondersteun. Georganiseerde sportaktiwiteite bied nie net 'n veilige en gestruktureerde omgewing vir adolessente nie, maar dien ook as 'n voertuig vir sosiale insluiting en persoonlike ontwikkeling. Die persepsies wat van die deelnemers ingesamel word, beklemtoon die transformerende vermoë van sport in die bevordering van 'n positiewe gevoel van eiewaarde en prestasie onder minderbevoorregte adolessente. Ten slotte beklemtoon die studie die beduidende positiewe impak wat sportdeelname op die selfbeeld van minderbevoorregte adolessente kan hê, wat die belangrikheid van toegang tot sportprogramme vir hierdie demografie beklemtoon. Hierdie navorsing toon die behoefte aan voortgesette ondersteuning en belegging in sportinisiatiewe vir minderbevoorregte gemeenskappe om vertroue en veerkragtigheid by jong individue te help koester.

Patlisiso eno ya boleng e sekaseka seabe sa metshameko mo go nonotsheng go itshepa ga basha ba ba humanegileng. Patlisiso eno e ne e theilwe mo dipotsolotsong xiii tse di tseneletseng tse di neng di dirwa le basha ba ba humanegileng ba ba nnang le seabe mo dithulaganyong tsa metshameko, mmogo le bakatisi ba ba berekang le batho bano. Ka thulaganyo ya tshekatsheko ya ditlhogo, patlisiso e senola kafa go nna le seabe mo metshamekong go ka amang ka teng go itshepa ga basha ba ba humanegileng ka go ba naya ditshono tsa go tokafatsa bokgoni jwa bone, go nna le kamano le batho ba bangwe le go ikutlwa ba fitlheletse sengwe. Setlhogo sa ntlha, Sports Activities Influence on Wellbeing, se gatelela botlhokwa jwa kgopolo ya gore go nna le seabe mo metshamekong le mo ditirong tsa mmele go bontshitse gore go na le mesola e mentsi mo boitekanelong jwa mmele le jwa tlhaloganyo. Ka jalo, e gatelela thata go batla ditiro tse di itumedisang, tse di kgotsofatsang le tse di tla nnelang ruri ka boikaelelo jwa go bona melemo e mentsi e metshameko le ditiro tsa go itshidila mmele di nang le yone. Setlhogo sa bobedi se se reng, Adolescence's social network influence, se bontsha gore basha ba tlhotlhelediwa thata ke ditsala tsa bone, ba malapa a bone, ba ba tsenang le bone mo tlelaseng le balekane ba bone. Dilo tseno di ka ama dikarolo tse di farologaneng tsa botshelo jwa mosha, go akaretsa tsela e a itshwarang ka yone, maikutlo a gagwe, dilo tse a di dumelang le ditshwetso tse a di dirang. Ka jalo, go botlhokwa thata gore batsadi, barutabana le bagolo ba bangwe ba itse ka ditlhotlheletso tseno mme ba ba kaele le go ba ema nokeng ka tsela e e tshwanetseng go thusa basha gore ba nne le dikamano tse di siameng le batho ba bangwe. Setlhogo sa boraro, e leng Tsamaiso ya go Nna le Seabe mo Metshamekong, gantsi se akaretsa dikgato di le mmalwa, go tloga ka go nna le seabe mo metshamekong go ya go go nna le seabe mo go yone. Se se bakwa ke mabaka a a farologaneng a a ka nnang le tlhotlheletso mo mothong, jaaka, tlhotlheletso ya botho, tshegetso ya lelapa, phitlhelelo ya ditlamelo le xiv metswedi, boleng jwa katiso, le tlhotlheletso ya dikgobalo kgotsa diphetogo tse dingwe tsa botshelo. Mo godimo ga moo, diphitlhelelo di gatelela botlhokwa jwa metshameko jaaka sedirisiwa sa go maatlafatsa le go tokafatsa mo gare ga bašwa ba ba kgaphetsweng kwa thoko mo maemong a Aforika Borwa. Patlisiso eno e thusa go tlhaloganya melemo e e ka nnang teng ya dithulaganyo tsa metshameko mo basheng ba ba humanegileng mme e naya barutisi, bakatisi le batlhami ba melao tshedimosetso ya gore ba ka thusa jang batho ba ba bokoa bano gore ba itshepe. Ditiro tsa metshameko tse di rulagantsweng ga di neye fela basha tikologo e e babalesegileng le e e rulagantsweng mme gape di ba thusa gore ba nne le seabe mo setšhabeng le gore ba gole. Dikakanyo tse di kgobokantsweng go tswa go batsayakarolo di gatelela bokgoni jwa metshameko jwa go fetola batho ka go rotloetsa boikutlo jo bo siameng jwa go itsaya o le botlhokwa le go fitlhelela sengwe mo basheng ba ba humanegileng. Fa re konela, patlisiso eno e bontsha kafa go nna le seabe mo metshamekong go ka nnang le diphelelo tse di molemo ka teng mo go direng gore basha ba ba humanegileng ba itshepe, e bile e gatelela botlhokwa jwa gore basha bano ba kgone go tsenela dithulaganyo tsa metshameko. Dipatlisiso tseno di bontsha gore go tlhokega gore go nne go na le tshegetso e e tsweletseng le go beelediwa madi mo maitekong a metshameko a a dirwang ke batho ba ba humanegileng go thusa go godisa go itshepa le go kgona go itshokelana mo basheng.