An Analysis of Peer Groups Influence on Sports Involvement of Female Athletes in Rivers State Secondary Schools, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the peer group influence on sports involvement of female athletes in Rivers State Secondary Schools of Nigeria. Data were collected with the use of questionnaire , from a sample of 102 female athletes, randomly selected from17 secondary schools that took part in 2003 All Secondary Schools Sports Festival in Rivers State. Three hypotheses were formulated, tested and verified significant. Results from the percentages and Chi-square statistical methods used to analyze the data indicated that peer groups significantly influence the sports involvement of female athletes in Rivers State Secondary Schools. The summary table shows that a total of 2.61 percent of the responses indicated that peers have no significant influence on female involvement in sports among secondary schools' female athletes in Rivers State, as against 47.06 percent and 50.33 percent responses that respectively favoured the peer groups' influence. This study concluded that peer group is an institution, which fills the gap in socialization process. And that peer groups influence female sports involvement among secondary school girls in Rivers State of Nigeria. Based on the results and findings of this study , recommendations were made among them which were: sports administrators should administer sports that are free from traditional stereotyped roles expected of normal girls and boys at secondary schools which may stop peer group influence among girls. Females in Rivers State should be allowed to be involved fully in sports like their male counterparts.