Involvement In Clubs Research Articles

Empowering Moroccan University Students Through Extracurricular Involvement in Collegiate Clubs: A Longitudinal Study

Extracurricular clubs stand out as transformative and accommodating hubs in the academic experience of university students, thereby offering opportunities for personal growth, community building, and effective academic engagement. This research investigates the profound influence of academic club participation on Moroccan university students, with a specific focus on experiences within clubs such as the Bookworms and Public Speaking Clubs at Ibn Zohr University. Employing a qualitative longitudinal approach, including qualitative case studies and longitudinal analysis, the research reveals three main themes: empowerment through inclusivity, increased academic engagement and excellence, and a sense of agency and achievement. Findings indicate that club participation fosters a sense of belonging, enhances academic motivation, and develops essential soft skills, leadership orientations and community engagement. The study calls for institutional support and integration of clubs into the curriculum to promote educational research and practice within Moroccan universities.

Youth sport coaches' perceptions of participating in the Transformational Coaching Workshop – A qualitative evaluation

Transformational leadership in sports is generally associated with positive athlete outcomes. The Transformational Coaching Workshop was developed as a person-oriented workshop to enhance youth sport experiences. However, evidence of participants’ perceptions of the workshop and how it may be improved is lacking. This study investigated coaches' perceptions of the Transformational Coaching Workshop, its outcomes and applications, and areas for improvement. Youth handball coaches were interviewed immediately (n = 10) and 6 months (n = 5) after participating in the Transformational Coaching Workshop, and the club's sporting director was interviewed 6 months following the workshop. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, and data were analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis. Overall, the workshop was well received by the coaches, highlighting the importance of a coach development program on the interpersonal aspect of coaching, and pinpointing relevant and practical examples and interactive learning experiences as effective components of the workshop. Furthermore, the workshop made the coaches more confident in their approach to leadership and provided tools and ideas for implementing transformational leadership in their daily coaching practices. It was also perceived to lead to actual behaviour changes, including challenging the players to take more responsibilities and fostering more frequent informal interactions and counselling with them. However, to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Transformational Coaching Workshop, additional follow-up activities such as seminars, colleague observations, and club involvement were recommended. In conclusion, this study contributes to the existing literature on the potential efficacy of the Transformational Coaching Workshop while identifying areas for further improvement.

The effects of musical practice on the well-being, mental health and social support of student, amateur, and professional musicians in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This pan-Canadian study investigates the effects of musical practice on the well-being, mental health, and social support of Canadian musicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a survey questionnaire, data was collected from 1,618 participants aged 14 and above during the first wave of the pandemic up to the first half of 2022. The survey included standardized questionnaires to self-assess well-being (WHO-5), mental health (MHC-SF), and social support (SPS-10 measures social support). Results show that increased musical practice frequency correlates with improved well-being and mental health, particularly among amateurs. Professional musicians and those at a post-secondary level exhibit lower well-being scores, likely due to pandemic-related challenges. Factors such as age, gender, sports engagement, and participation in social clubs or volunteer work significantly influenced outcomes. While sports engagement was associated with higher scores on well-being, mental health and social support, no significant differences were found among participants engaged in artistic hobbies. As for involvement in social clubs or volunteer work, benefits were reported on two of the three outcomes. Overall, the findings suggest that regular amateur musical practice, especially in group settings, alongside engagement in sports and social activities, may have promoted well-being, mental health, and social support among musicians during the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reflections on my engineering student experience and career path: Exploring my positionality and the impact to my research

Critical reflection and positionality has become more common in engineering education research. I am a PhD student pursuing research to explore the influence of the undergraduate experience on career pathways for engineering graduates. The purpose of this critical reflection is to determine which aspects of my undergraduate experience and career path might have been influential for me and how this impacts my research process. This reflection included narratives describing pivotal moments or experiences in my undergraduate degree and career path, theming them using an inductive approach. The majority of experiences deemed to be pivotal or influential to my career were related to my sense of belonging and my involvement in student clubs. These experiences have affected my research process through my research topic, methodology and how I relate to my research participants. This allows me to be cognizant of my biases as I continue my PhD research.

Elite women's clubs in the 1930s across three Australian states: a prosopographical study

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the clubs and club memberships of 491 elite women in three eastern Australian states in the 1930s. It is the second part of a descriptive analysis of these women's biographical sketches in Who's Who-type collections, now out of copyright, published in Australia in the 1930s: Victoria (1934), New South Wales (1936) and Queensland (1939).Design/methodology/approachUsing mixed methods within a prosopographical approach, described fully in the first paper on these data, this is mainly a quantitative analysis. After the numbers of club memberships of the women are given and compared on a state-by-state basis, a taxonomy of five main types of clubs was created and the clubs and club memberships listed for each of them. The five types are: (1) social and cultural clubs; (2) sporting clubs; (3) imperial, national and patriotic clubs; (4) professional clubs; and (5) service and educational clubs. The paper then explores the similarities and variations at the state level in the women's club memberships across the five types. It should be noted that the article does not include charities to which the women contributed because they required a separate typology and analysis to be taken up elsewhere.FindingsThe paper frames women's clubs as informal educative networks where women were able to acquire the knowledge and skills in modernity for effective participation in the public sphere. The analysis shows that three-quarters of the 491 women were members of one club or more. Overall, the women listed 340 separate clubs with 1,029 memberships across the five types. The state-by-state analysis giving lists of clubs, and numbers of memberships per club in each type, enumerated variations of women's clubs at the state level. Overall, the analysis suggests that the “club habit” for such women was a substantial historical phenomenon at this time.Originality/valueThis is the first study to encompass women's club memberships across three Australian states. Quantification of women's involvement in clubs has proved difficult, however, by using a prosopographical approach, this study creates a unique quantitative picture of the club data contained in 491 elite women's biographical sketches from the 1930s.

Students’ Needs on Development Programs: Inputs for Student Services Enhancement


 This study assessed needs for development programs of NDMU students in terms of leadership formation, socio-cultural performing arts, advocacy programs, involvement in clubs and organizations, and sports and wellness programs. It was conducted at Notre Dame of Marbel University with 345 respondents enrolled in the school year 2019-2022 and was selected through convenient sampling. Researcher- made on needs assessment survey questionnaire was employed and online survey method was used in gathering the data. This study also utilized a quantitative-descriptive research design using descriptive statistics in analyzing the data. The mean was used to determine the degree of involvement of students in different categories. Data revealed that there is a high degree of need to address the leadership and formation of students with an overall mean of 3.30. Also, in socio-cultural and performing arts, it was found out that there is moderate degree of need to intensify the program that will help the students improve their skills in performing, with an overall mean of 3.10. In terms of the advocacy program, there is a moderate degree of need to enhance the social and communication skills of the students who wanted to organize community projects, with an overall mean of 3.23. Further, the data gathered showed that the involvement in the clubs and organizations of the students has a moderate degree of need to be improved with an overall mean of 3.20, and when it comes to sports and wellness, there is a moderate degree of need to intensify, or address with an overall mean of 3.19. Since there is a high degree of need for leadership and formation, there is a need to strengthen the activities involved in this category. On the other hand, four (4) categories were assessed as having moderate need; there is also a need to re-visit and evaluate to justify making these programs more effective.

Influence of involvement in clubs and organizations on the leadership development of students

A well-rounded education includes extracurricular activities because they give students the chance to apply their academic knowledge in a practical setting and serve as a means of reinforcing classroom lessons. In clubs and organizations, which are essentially tiny communities where they are welcomed, a student can express themselves, polish their strengths, feel a strong sense of shared ownership, and most importantly, gain the skills they need to become people-for-others. Organizations and clubs are particularly part of student’s school life. Participating in any group, anywhere in the globe, can help someone develop a set of skills that support the growth of their leadership traits. Student organizations offer one opportunity for students to identify and test their leadership abilities. This study focus on the influence of involvement in clubs and organizations on the leadership development of the students. According to Keating, leadership development initiatives should not only attend to the development of skill but also show unswerving focus to the wide range of factors that enable the student to practice the behaviors of effective leaders. On the conducted study it was found that involvement of students in clubs and organizations does influence their leadership development. Along with leadership development, joining further helps the students to improve communication skills as well as social skills.

University Campus Life and Activities Aligned with Students’ Preferences towards Designing Competency Model Framework

Universities are keen to offer a holistic student experience, which is imparted through participation in activities, involvement in clubs, and community engagement. Campus life and activities contribute to skills and attributes enhance employability and interpersonal competencies. Within this context, this research aims to examine students’ preferences for features of campus life and activities to acquire life skills and competencies. The study explores the perceptions of the students at Gulf University, Bahrain about campus life and participation in activities for interpersonal and academic achievement. The research deployed both quantitative and qualitative methodology. The quantitative methodology relied on questionnaire, with responses from 405 students across the programs. The results were analysed to identify students’ preferences for activities and development of competencies. As part of the qualitative methodology, a focus group interview was conducted involving 10 students. The results of the questionnaire and content analysis of the focus group interview illustrated that students embrace campus life and appreciate the opportunity to participate in a wide range of events and activities. All the students were interested in sports activities. The role of activities in developing a range of competencies for employability and holistic learning was overlooked by a considerable number of students. The results were utilized to design a four-to five-year competency framework supporting universities to prepare graduates who stand out to employers because of their interpersonal competencies such as reflecting a distinguished character, passion for taking responsibility, and leading initiatives in their profession, community, and environment. The framework supports ongoing improvement in competency identification, redesigning campus life and activities, assessing the impact, and feeding back for the next cycle.

From Disillusioned Returned Youth to Party Propagandists: Rural Educated Youth and their Involvement in Rural Clubs in Southeast Shanxi, 1961–1965

From Disillusioned Returned Youth to Party Propagandists: Rural Educated Youth and their Involvement in Rural Clubs in Southeast Shanxi, 1961–1965

Why executive board membership in academic clubs helps students get interviews

PurposeThe paper aims to improve students' job placements, higher education institutions invest considerable resources and their students spend considerable time in academic clubs. Yet, quantitative findings on the effect of students' academic club involvement on job placements are mixed. This paper aims to help resolve ambiguity regarding the effect of academic clubs on job placements.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted two studies. The first developed an inductive theoretical model by interviewing recruiters and managers and extending status characteristics theory. The second study is an experiment that tested the first study's inductive model and increased the model's generalizability.FindingsThe results of both studies show that executive board membership, but not general membership, increases perceptions of applicants' emotional control and public speaking ability, and thereby increases applicants' chances of getting an interview.Practical implicationsAdministrators should consider shifting resources away from academic clubs that only benefit a few students and toward programs that help more students develop transferable skills. Students should prioritize joining clubs in which students think students can become executive board members. Academic clubs should require general members to have responsibilities that help members develop transferable skills. Industry may need to make more competitive offers to hire executive board members.Originality/valueThe two studies contribute to research on academic clubs by suggesting that the results of previous academic club membership studies are mixed, because only executive board members are more likely to get interviews. The results also highlight the importance of applying status characteristics theory to future academic club research.

Impact of first-generation status, living in an LCC, and campus club involvement on sense of belonging in the first semester

To determine if first-generation status, living in an LLC, and campus club involvement affect students’ sense of belonging in their first semester of college, the researchers surveyed first-year college students enrolled at a large, public research institution during their first semester. Multiple regression analyses found campus club involvement to be a significant predictor of sense of belonging on all four subscales of the Sense of Belonging Scale: perceived peer support, perceived classroom comfort, perceived isolation, and perceived faculty support. Living in an LLC was also found to be a significant predictor of perceived peer support, but not in perceived classroom comfort, perceived isolation, or perceived faculty support. First-generation status did not emerge as a significant predictor for any of the four areas of sense of belonging. Findings revealed the significant role campus involvement has on college students’ sense of belonging in the first semester.

P02-12 The implementation cost of a walking football exercise program for patients with type 2 diabetes: a case study of SWEET-Football (Portugal)

BackgroundEconomic analysis of health interventions is essential to the development and implementation of sustainable health policies, especially in noncommunicable diseases area. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is one of the most relevant noncommunicable diseases globally. Regular physical activity is an established cornerstone of T2D control, with benefits in glycemic control, cardiovascular risk factors and quality of life. Thus, the current study aimed to assess the cost of a community-based physical activity intervention for patients with T2D.MethodsWe assessed the SWETT-Football program - a community-based walking football exercise program for middle-aged and older male patients with T2D. The program was tested in Portugal through a scientific project (NCT03810846) funded by FIFA (FIFA Research Scholarship 2018). One season of this program consists of three sessions per week (60 minutes per session) during nine months (October to June). For the calculations, we considered a total of 40 patients (two groups of 20). We calculated the direct costs of one season for the host institution: 216 hours of renting a sports hall and hiring human resources (a football coach and a nurse); cardiac stress tests and sports insurance for the participants; sports equipment (balls, cones, vests); vital signs monitoring equipment (blood pressure, heart rate and capillary blood glucose); logistical equipment (disposable and non-disposable); and technical training. In addition, we considered an economic depreciation of five years for sports and electronic materials. Cost analysis dated January 2022.ResultsOne season of this program for 40 patients with T2D was estimated to have a total implementation cost of 11,026.51€: 1,225.17€/month; 275.66€/patient; 51.05€/session; 30.63€/patient/month; and 2.55€/patient/session.ConclusionsA community-based walking football program for patients with T2D has an affordable cost and is feasible for large-scale implementation by local communities with the involvement of football clubs, municipalities and primary health care units, promoting physical activity and contributing to T2D control.

Football and Ice Hockey Fans' Experience of a 12-Week Training and Weight-Loss Pilot Intervention (ViSiT) in Sweden—A Focus Group Study

Background: Excess weight is associated with an increased risk of poor health and premature mortality. This is more problematic for men than for women because men have a lower life expectancy and a higher prevalence of several lifestyle-related diseases. A concept whereby overweight male supporters of professional football clubs are recruited and offered a weight-loss intervention has been developed in Scotland. In the present study, we explore participants' experiences of a similar pilot intervention, called ViSiT, conducted with supporters in one ice hockey club and one football club in Sweden to assess the feasibility of using the intervention in a Swedish context.Methods: In this user centered evaluation, focus groups were conducted with 12 men who had completed the 12-week ViSiT intervention. Participants discussed reasons for participating in and completing the intervention, effects of the intervention, advantages, and areas of improvement of the intervention, and thoughts on the club's involvement. The material was analyzed using thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke.Results: The analyses revealed four themes: reasons to participate, motivation and reinforcement, change of habit, and areas for improvement. The intervention was seen as an opportunity to change daily lifestyle behaviors. The group format, as well as the involvement of a prestigious sports club, was important for signing up to the intervention and for motivating continued involvement. The intervention had also resulted in increased knowledge on health and changed mindsets about being more attentive to regulating day-to-day behavior. Although the overall feedback on the intervention was positive, the participants suggested that possibilities to have more individual coaching should be added.Conclusions: The ViSiT weight loss and lifestyle intervention may be feasible in a Swedish context to reach overweight men at risk of poor health. The ice hockey and football club supporters expressed similar experiences from participating in the intervention. ViSiT seem to have a potential to be adopted by many sports clubs for a widespread reach to a group normally considered reluctant to participate in lifestyle change programs.

Examining Minority Students’ Involvements and Experiences in Cultural Clubs and Organizations at Community Colleges

ABSTRACT In this cross-sectional survey study, we examined the experiences of minority students’ involvement and their experiences in cultural clubs and organizations at community colleges. From two community colleges, 204 participants were invited to complete an online survey “Experience with diversity index”. The findings indicated a significant positive correlation between minority student involvement in cultural clubs and organizations, and their experience with cultural diversity. In other words, students who were involved in clubs and organizations reported that they were able to become acquainted with students from a different country, race, or ethnic background. Through their involvement, they were able to have discussions regarding religion, lifestyles, customs, and traditions. The findings also revealed that demographic information such as age, gender, and generational status did not contribute to minority students’ interactions with peers and faculty members at community colleges. Approximately 82% of participants reported being often or very often involved in culturally based clubs and organizations, whereas 18% reported little to occasional involvement.

Male Barroom Aggression among Members of the Australian Construction Industry: Associations with Heavy Episodic Drinking, Trait Variables and Masculinity Factors.

Introduction and Aims: Past research indicates heavy episodic drinking (HED), trait aggression, male honour and conformity to masculine norms are risk factors for male barroom aggression (MBA) perpetration. However, little is known about the impact of these variables on experiences of MBA victimization. Further, data derived previously, particularly in relation to perpetration have come from relatively low-risk samples comprising university students, limiting the generalizability of findings to other, at-risk male groups. Thus, the present study assessed the impact of the aforementioned variables as well as personality constructs of impulsivity and narcissism on both the perpetration of and victimization from MBA among a high-risk sample sourced from male members of the Australian construction industry. Method: A purposive sample of Australian male construction workers aged 18 to 69 years (n = 476, Mage = 25.90, SDage = 9.44) completed individual interviews at their current place of employment or while training at various trade schools in Geelong and Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Items related to past month HED, past year experiences of verbal and physical MBA (perpetration and victimization), trait aggression’s four factors (physical, verbal, anger, hostility), impulsivity, narcissism, male honour and conformity to masculine norms. Results: Participants reported high levels of verbal (24.2%) and physical (21%) MBA perpetration and verbal (33.6%) and physical (31.1%) MBA victimization. Hierarchical binary logistic regression analyses identified HED as the strongest predictor of aggression involvement, while trait physical aggression, trait anger, narcissism and conformity to norms endorsing violence and a need to win were significantly and positively associated with MBA perpetration. Conclusions: The present study reinforces the key relationships between heavy drinking and aspects of personality and MBA, while also highlighting narcissism as a risk factor for barroom aggression perpetration. Indeed, personality profiles and HED appear to exert stronger influences on MBA perpetration than socially constructed masculinity factors, most of which were unrelated to aggression involvement in bars, clubs or pubs.

Implementation of K-Modes Algorithm for Clustering of Stress Causes in University Students

Stress is an inevitable part of life in a college environment. The variety of factors that cause stress in students, it is necessary to cluster the factors that cause stress in students to see the description of the characteristics of each cluster of students. The clustering process is carried out to identify the causes of stress in student groups and their relationship to these internal and external factors. Cluster analysis can be used as a reference to decide on efforts to handle and prevent increased stress in students.
 The clustering process is carried out using the Python programming language. The algorithm used is the k-modes clustering algorithm. This algorithm is suitable for clustering categorical data. The optimal number of clusters obtained from the implementation of the elbow method is three clusters. Cluster 1 is a cluster with a mild stress level, the main cause of stress is academic issues. Cluster 1 is the only group where the majority of the cause of stress is not financial. Cluster 2 is a cluster with a high stress level which causes various stressors. However, cluster 2 is the only cluster where the cause of stress is on careers and on involvement in hostels, clubs, and society. Cluster 3 is a cluster with a medium stress level. This cluster is the only cluster dominated by male gender. The main cause of stress in this cluster is academic and financial.

Gender-sexuality alliance membership and activities: associations with students' comfort, confidence and awareness regarding substance use resources.

Belonging to a school Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) is associated with lower substance use among LGBTQ+ youth. However, it is unknown whether GSA participation facilitates access to resources for substance use concerns. Using longitudinal data from 38 Massachusetts high schools, we compared sources of support for substance use concerns listed by GSA members (n = 361) and nonmembers (n = 1539). Subsequently, we tested whether GSA membership was associated with comfort, confidence and awareness regarding substance use resources in school and the community. Finally, we assessed whether specific GSA activities and discussions (e.g. social support) were associated with these outcomes. Among students with recent substance use, GSA membership was associated with greater comfort, confidence and awareness regarding school-based substance use resources in the spring semester, adjusted for fall semester levels and non-GSA club involvement. Furthermore, students in GSAs where members reported more advocacy and social support activities reported higher levels of comfort, confidence and awareness regarding community-based substance use resources. These results indicate that among students using alcohol or nicotine products, GSA members may be more receptive to school-based substance use prevention efforts. Furthermore, GSA-based social support and activism experiences may promote access to community-based substance use resources.

Perceptions of the social and physical environment of adolescents’ dietary behaviour in neighbourhoods of different socioeconomic position

A higher proportion of adolescents from families in a lower socioeconomic position (SEP) tends to have more unhealthy dietary behaviours, and overweight and obesity, than their counterparts in higher SEPs. More research is needed to understand the causes of these differences, in particular the influence of the neighbourhood environment, which has been explored less. The presented qualitative study explores how adolescents and their parents from higher and lower SEP neighbourhoods perceive the social and physical environment influencing adolescents’ dietary behaviours. We conducted 6 semi-structured focus groups with 35 13–14 year olds and 8 interviews with some of their parents. The interviewees were recruited from one higher and two lower SEP neighbourhoods in Oslo, Norway. Theme-based inductive coding was used for analysis, and the results discussed in light of an ecological framework.The results indicate that all the adolescents experience several barriers to healthy dietary behaviours. For adolescents in the lower SEP neighbourhood, one or both parents desired their cultural cuisine served at home, whereas the adolescents wanted and often consumed western dishes. Fast-food restaurants or hanging out at the mall was perceived as the preferred social arena, often due to lack of involvement in either leisure-time physical activities or youth clubs as a safe, engaging option. The adolescents in the higher SEP neighbourhood perceived social norms which accentuated healthy dietary choices. When more possibilities for activities were present and the adolescents expressed being highly engaged in leisure-time physical activity, this also seemed to facilitate healthier dietary behaviours. These findings indicate how several factors simultaneously can influence dietary behaviour. Use of a multi-layered approach when exploring the environmental influences could increase knowledge about tackling social inequalities in dietary behaviours among adolescents.

A Latent Class Analysis of Adolescents in First-Year University: Associations with Psychosocial Adjustment Throughout the Emerging Adult Period and Post-University Outcomes.

The long-term outcomes for adolescents who struggle in first-year university remain unexplored. This 7-year longitudinal study aimed to identify distinct groups of adolescents based on their characteristics/behaviors in first-year university, and then assess whether these groups differ in psychosocial adjustment trajectories (i.e., mental health, positive relationships) throughout the emerging adult period, as well as in graduation rates, employment characteristics, and reflections on time spent at university. Participants (N = 1017; 71% female; Year 1 Mage = 19 years) enrolled in a Canadian university completed a survey annually for 7 years. Four groups in Year 1 were identified: Good Students who exhibited no difficulties; Sensation-Seeking who prioritized social engagement and substance use over academic engagement but reported no psychological adjustment difficulties; Struggling Students who had the most difficulties; and Club Involved who exhibited high club involvement. The Struggling Students Group continued to have more psychosocial adjustment difficulties than the other groups during and after university, were more likely to drop out of university, and to later have less job satisfaction. This group requires the most support. Consideration also should be given to the Sensation-Seeking Group, as they reported a lack of academic motivation (and regret about that later) and also were more likely to drop out of university. At the same time, they may be more difficult to target given that they did not report psychosocial difficulties. Overall, the findings highlight the need for early support and discourage a 'one-size fits all' method for promoting psychosocial adjustment.

The Effect of Participation Motivations on Interpersonal Relationships and Learning Achievement of Female College Students in Sports Club: Moderating Role of Club Involvement.

The aim of this study is to explore the moderating effect of club involvement on the relationships of female college students’ sport club participation motivations for interpersonal relationships and learning achievement. Using cluster sampling, a structured questionnaire was distributed to 450 female college students located in northern, central, and southern Taiwan with a valid return rate of 96.2%. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis, the study found that the female college students’ participation motivations both affected interpersonal relationships and learning achievement positively. In addition, the moderating effects of club involvement on interpersonal relationships and learning achievement were both significant. Club involvement enhanced the effects of the female college students’ sport club participation motivations for interpersonal relationships and learning achievement. According to the results and discussion, practical application and future research suggestions were provided.