Preferred Sports Research Articles

Gender differences in preferences of individual and team sports in Polish adolescents

Background: The prevalence of physical activity (PA) depends greatly on the options of executing preferable and favorite PA. Objective information about individual preferences in types of PA can support successful integration of adolescents into regular participation in PA. Defining the role of individual and team sports in regard to girls' and boys' sport preferences is a permanent problem that requires objective and continuous diagnostics. Objective: The purpose of the study is to examine the relationship among girls' and boys' preferences in individual and team sports and further among these preferences and PA participation. Methods: Online research was conducted in the Katowice region and 518 boys and 559 girls from the age of 15 to 17 years participated. All high schools in the region were called on for participation, but only schools that allowed the research examination participated. Sport preferences survey that participants completed online via INDARES system was used to diagnose preferences in individual and team sports. The results were analyzed using basic statistical procedures, the relationship was determined based on rank correlation coefficients and differences between orders of preferred sports were tested by Mann-Whitney test. Results: The most preferred individual sport in girls and boys is swimming, and that applies for all age groups. There is a very strong correlation (rs = .841 - .895; p < .001) among girls' and boys' (15 to 17 years old) preferences in individual sports. Volleyball is the most preferred team sport for girls followed by basketball and handball. The most preferred team sport for boys is soccer by distantly followed by volleyball and basketball. The relationship between girls' and boys' team sports is not as strong as for individual sports (rs = .745 - .763; p < .001). In regard to selected sports, boys and girls corresponded in their team sports preferences followed by individual sports preferences. The highest difference in preferences was evident in the group of Rhythmic and Dancing activities, which were ranked third by girls, while boys ranked them last. Both girls and boys who prefer individual sports and girls who prefer team sports participate longer in hourly range of organized PA. Conclusions: The Polish version of the online system INDARES is a suitable diagnostic tool for the examination of sport preferences sphere in adolescents. Understanding gender differences in sport preferences of adolescents can increase their participation in organized PA.

Attitudes regarding ski helmet use among helmet wearers and non-wearers

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to compare attitudes regarding ski helmet use in helmet wearers and non-wearers.MethodsIn total, 924 persons ≥18 years (52% men and 48% women) participating in...

Student Athletes’ Sports-Program Viewing: Motives and Preferences

The current study examined student athletes’ motives for viewing sports programs on television and their relationships with various viewing behaviors. Employing uses and gratifications theory and social differentiation theory, the study investigated whether student athletes’ motives for sports-program viewing would predict their preference of program selection and amount of viewing. An on-site survey of 225 Division I athletes from 3 Midwestern universities found that student athletes had entertainment, social-facilitation, and integration motives for sports-program viewing. Ritual use of sports programs (entertainment) was their primary motive, followed by instrumental use (social facilitation and integration). Results showed that student athletes’ main goal of watching sports programs on television was escape from their daily problems. Additional results showed that there was no gender difference in student athletes’ motives and sports-program preferences. Both male and female student athletes preferred male sports such as football and men’s college basketball.

Examining the effects of website‐induced flow in professional sporting team websites

PurposeThis paper seeks to contribute to the internet marketing literature by examining the impact of flow on consumers' satisfaction, aroused feelings, website loyalty and word‐of‐mouth behaviours.Design/methodology/approachA self‐administered online questionnaire was used for data collection through a market research firm which randomly selected individuals of its online panel. Participants were asked to recall a recent encounter with their preferred professional sport website and refer to that website regarding their answers. Data were gathered from 400 consumers from a variety of professional sporting teams. The variables under investigation in the study were measured using established scales from the marketing literature and adapted to the context of the study.FindingsThe results indicate that a compelling online experience related to sporting team websites as represented by flow experiences appears to be a driver of positive aroused feelings, higher satisfaction levels, as well as website loyalty and positive word‐of‐mouth of sport consumers.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample of the study is restricted to consumer evaluations from a specific website‐service context being the professional sport sector. The empirical relationships between flow, aroused feelings, consumer satisfaction, website loyalty and word of mouth reported in the study are tentative in the sense that they are based on cross‐sectional data.Practical implicationsThe study provides important implications for flow theory development and implications for internet marketing strategy, especially for professional sporting teams.Originality/valueThe paper adds to the literature by investigating the relationship between flow and consequent outcomes of encounters and experiences of sporting team websites. Little research has addressed flow, and its effect on aroused feelings, consumer satisfaction and website‐related loyalty intentions, especially in the domain of professional sport websites.

Associations of polymorphisms of eight muscle- or metabolism-related genes with performance in Mount Olympus marathon runners

Athletic endurance performance is probably partly under genetic control, but genetic association studies have yielded inconclusive results. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the association of polymorphisms in eight muscle- or metabolism-related genes with endurance performance in participants of the Olympus Marathon running race. We recruited 438 athletes who participated in the 2007 and 2008 annual running events of the Olympus Marathon: a 43.8-km race with an ascent from sea level to 2,690-m altitude and then a descent to 300 m. Phenotypes of interest were the competitive event time at the specific Olympus Marathon where the athlete was enrolled, the fastest reported timing ever achieved in an Olympus Marathon, and how many kilometers per week the athlete ran during the previous year. Eleven polymorphisms in alpha(3)-actinin (ACTN3), AMP deaminase-1 (AMPD1), bradykinin B(2) receptor (BDKRB2), beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PPARGC1A), PPAR-alpha (PPARA), PPAR-delta (PPARD), and apoliprotein E (APOE) were evaluated. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium testing on the overall cohort of male athletes showed a significant deviation for BDKRB2 rs1799722 (P = 0.018; P = 0.006 when limited to 316 habitual male runners) with an excess of the TT genotype. Across all athletes, no associations showed nominal statistical significance for any of the three phenotypes, and the same was true when analyses were limited to men (n = 417). When limited to 316 male athletes who identified running as their preferred sport, ADRB2 rs1042713 had nominally significant associations with faster times for the minor (A) allele for the fastest time ever (P = 0.01). The direction of effect was identical as previously postulated only for BDKRB2 rs1799722 and ADRB2 rs1042713, indicating consistency. BDKRB2 rs1799722 and ADRB2 rs1042713 have some support for being implicated in endurance performance among habitual runners and require further investigation.

Low-Energy Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy as a Treatment for Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome

Background Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) is a pain syndrome along the tibial origin of the tibialis posterior or soleus muscle. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (SWT) is effective in numerous types of insertional pain syndromes. Hypothesis Shock wave therapy is an effective treatment for chronic MTSS. Study Design Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods Forty-seven consecutive subjects with chronic recalcitrant MTSS underwent a standardized home training program, and received repetitive low-energy radial SWT (2000 shocks; 2.5 bars of pressure, which is equal to 0.1 mJ/mm2; total energy flux density, 200 mJ/mm2; no local anesthesia) (treatment group). Forty-seven subjects with chronic recalcitrant MTSS were not treated with SWT, but underwent a standardized home training program only (control group). Evaluation was by change in numeric rating scale. Degree of recovery was measured on a 6-point Likert scale (subjects with a rating of completely recovered or much improved were rated as treatment success). Results One month, 4 months, and 15 months from baseline, success rates for the control and treatment groups according to the Likert scale were 13% and 30% (P < .001), 30% and 64% (P < .001), and 37% and 76% (P < .001), respectively. One month, 4 months, and 15 months from baseline, the mean numeric rating scale for the control and treatment groups were 7.3 and 5.8 (P < .001), 6.9 and 3.8 (P < .001), and 5.3 and 2.7 (P < .001), respectively. At 15 months from baseline, 40 of the 47 subjects in the treatment group had been able to return to their preferred sport at their preinjury level, as had 22 of the 47 control subjects. Conclusion Radial SWT as applied was an effective treatment for MTSS.

Participation and risk‐taking behaviour in sports in children with haemophilia

The aim of this study was to investigate participation in sports activities and risk-taking behaviour in children with haemophilia and the relationship to personal and health related factors. Ninety-nine children (mean age 12.6 years) completed questionnaires regarding participation in sports and physical education, medication, health related quality of life, and perceived motor competence. Furthermore, weight, height, active range of motion, pain, and muscle strength were assessed. Based on a risk exposure factor (REF) we defined subgroups with low, medium, and high risk when participating in sport. Most children participate in sport five times a week (mean 140 min per week), and little absence during school sports was reported. In general, prophylaxis was not tailored to sport activities. Boys with haemophilia preferred other sports than their Dutch contemporaries. The top-5 being soccer, swimming, tennis, gymnastics, and cardio-fitness for the former; soccer, gymnastics, tennis, hockey, and swimming for the latter. Significant differences between the low risk group and both other groups were found for sport intensity, total energy expenditure (EE) and average risk factor (ARF), however the medium and high-risk groups did not differ in ARF. REF and sport participation increased associated with increasing interest in athletic and motor activities. No significant differences were found between REF groups regarding age, Z-BMI, Z-AROM, Z-Muscle force, and the presence of painful joints. As in normal peers motivation to participate in sport depends upon the enthusiasm and interest, in children with haemophilia choice of sports differs, probably related to sport advice.

Access point analysis in smoking and nonsmoking adolescents: findings from the European Smoking Prevention Framework Approach study

This study analyzed possibilities to access European adolescents for tobacco control activities in out-of-school settings as part of comprehensive tobacco control programs. Data on leisure time behaviors of secondary school students were gathered during three waves from six European Union countries as part of the European Smoking Prevention Framework Approach study. The results revealed that streets, shops, sport clubs, swimming pools and snack bars were the most popular leisure time settings for adolescents across the six countries. In addition, leisure time activities were similar across the six countries. European-wide prevention programmes can reach adolescents in similar out-of-school settings. Furthermore, smokers and nonsmokers differed in the places that they visited. Whereas smokers preferred social places such as bars, house/rave parties, discos, snack bars, streets and shops, nonsmokers preferred sport clubs and libraries. Smokers tended to visit more unsupervised and less structured places where smoking tends to be permitted, whereas nonsmokers tended to visit places with more structured activities and places under adult supervision. Over time, both smoking and nonsmoking adolescents tended to spend more of their leisure time in settings with low adult supervision. As structured activities under the supervision of adults can have a protective effect against the involvement in risky behaviours, participation in these types of activities must be promoted. Additional strategies for settings with less supervision need to be developed as they attract more smoking adolescents and older nonsmoking adolescents.

Sensation seeking, gender and programme preferences in televised sport

Sport has emerged as one of the major media events of our time of such magnitude that it is no more possible to distinguish between the phenomena of television and sport. The purpose of this study is to determine the relations between sensation seeking, gender and preferences in viewing televised sport. The reason being that the sensation seeking theories can offer media researchers a valuable approach to understanding why and how people use television to create their own excitement and entertainment. The survey methodology was used in this study. The questionnaire included the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS), which is a standardised psychological test, as well as a questionnaire that categorises a variety of sport in three major groups. Group A consists of violent combative sport, group B of aggressive combative sport and group C consists of non-aggressive stylistic sport. Ninety two (N=92) respondents were randomly selected to complete the Sensation Seeking Scale and to indicate their preferred sport programmes in terms of the three groups that range from extreme combative aggressive to more stylistic and artistic sport programmes. Results in this study indicated a direct relation between high sensation seeking and viewing violent combative sport (Group A). Low sensation seeking viewers also tend to view more stylistic sport on television (Group C). The hypothesis on gender differences was also supported. The male population is more attracted to violent combative sport, while the female population prefers to view more stylistic and artistic sport on television. South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation Vol. 28(2) 2006: 15-25

Matches and mismatches between telic dominance and type of sport: Changes in emotions and stress pre- to post-performance

This study was intended to test the proposition that telic dominant individuals have a greater affinity and preference for endurance sports compared to paratelic dominant individuals who prefer explosive sports. The Telic Dominance Scale (TDS) was used to divide 66 university students into telic (high) and paratelic (low) dominance groups ( n = 33 in each group). The state version of the Tension and Effort Stress Inventory (TESI) was completed before and after participation in an endurance sport (long distance running) and an explosive sport (basketball). It was predicted that participation in a preferred sport would produce a higher level of positive response for each group. This prediction was not supported. Irrespective of the type of sport, participation consistently produced positive changes in emotional tone with significant increases in excitement and decreases in anxiety, boredom, sullenness, modesty, resentment, and guilt. Some differences were found between groups and between sports. The telic group had higher levels of pride, gratitude, and virtue. Placidity, somatic tension stress and effort stress were higher for running than basketball. The findings are discussed within reversal theory’s motivational constructs and the broader context of sport and exercise adherence in health care.

Arthroscopic treatment of osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum

The results of arthroscopic debridement and loose body retrieval for osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the capitellum in 29 symptomatic patients who had failed conservative management are described. There were no complications of surgery. At an average of 77 months after operation the majority of patients had mild or no pain but with some discomfort during heavy lifting and sport. All were capable of performing simple activities of daily living, and all but one had good or excellent outcomes and rated their satisfaction highly. Only 4 of 27 patients had to give up their preferred sport because of persistent elbow problems. Thirty-eight percent of patients had recurrence of locking or catching, although these symptoms were described as better than the condition before operation and none wanted further surgical intervention. It is concluded that arthroscopic debridement and removal of loose bodies is a safe and reliable procedure for patients with persistent symptoms from OCD of the capitellum.

Handedness and hobby preference.

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between handedness and hobby preference in healthy individuals. For this reason, the Annett handedness questionnaire and a standard questionnaire on preference for hobbies were administered to 879 healthy young men (age, M = 22.3, SD = 4.8 yr.). Analysis showed more cultured individuals were much less likely to be strongly right-handed. Especially, pure right-handedness highly overrepresented among those who mainly preferred doing sports, pure left-handedness among those who preferred reading books, collecting, or going to the cinema/theater, and mixed-handedness among those who preferred arts, like playing music, drawing, or handicraft. The findings support evidence that handedness is associated with hobby preference.

Generation Y’s Perceptions of the Action Sports Industry Segment

The rise in consumer and corporate interest in action sports, also known as extreme sports, has been phenomenal. The apparent popularity of action sports, when combined with the sponsorships, endorsements, and advertising dollars they have quickly garnered, lends itself to scientific inquiry regarding the level and nature of public interest. The purpose of this study was to examine Generation Y's perceptions of action sports, with a specific focus on the expressed popularity of action sports and the relationship between action sports interest and use of the media. The 39-item Action Sports Questionnaire (ESQ) was constructed to examine Generation Y perceptions of action sports, sports related viewing preferences, and sports related media usage among middle and high school aged students. The present findings suggested that these members of the Generation Y (n = 367) niche market preferred action sports over the traditional sports of basketball and baseball. Respondents also indicated stronger preference for soccer, but would prefer to watch the X-Games over the World Cup. There is an indication that soccer and action sports are more popular among the younger generation than some traditional team sports. Males were slightly more supportive that action sports would become more popular in the future, and the male respondents were likewise more familiar with action sports. More members of Generation Y watch action sports than their predecessors, and they likewise tend to be optimistic about the future of action sports if they watch events on television.

Gender Differences in Interest and Knowledge Acquisition: The United States, Taiwan, and Japan.

The relationship between interest and knowledge was investigated in a representative sample of 11th grade students from cultures that differ in the strength of their gender-role stereotypes and their endorsement of effort-based versus interest-based learning. Among 11th graders from the United States (N = 1052), Taiwan (N = 1475), and Japan (N = 1119), boys preferred science, math, and sports, whereas girls preferred language arts, music, and art. General information scores were comparable across the three locations; however, boys consistently outscored girls. Gender and interest in science independently predicted general information scores, whereas gender and interest in math independently predicted mathematics scores. Cultural variations in the strength of the relationship between gender, interest, and scores indicate that specific socialization practices can minimize or exaggerate these gender differences.

The Influence of Social Alliances with Sports Teams on Intentions to Purchase Corporate Sponsors' Products

Sponsorship has become an increasingly popular form of marketing communications, yet little is known about what might influence consumers' intentions to purchase a sponsor's products. The focus here is on how the social alliances existing between fans and a preferred sports team influence purchase intentions. Data from a convenience sample of 678 adults attending a college football game suggest that favorable purchase intentions are more likely to occur (1) as identification with the team increases and (2) when such intentions are perceived as a group norm. Moreover, an ordinal interaction indicates that team identification has a greater effect on intentions at lower levels of group norms than at higher levels. Implications for practice are discussed.

Effects of self-induced mental imagery on autonomic reactivity in children.

The purposes of this research study were: (1) to determine whether changes in cardiac rate, skin temperature, and/or electrodermal activity occur as children change mental imagery and (2) to determine whether such changes are related to age, sex, or other variables. Children who were evaluated in this study had no previous experience with hypnosis or biofeedback training and were in good health with no learning disabilities. Thirty-eight boys and 38 girls ranging in age from 5 to 15 years were studied in a comfortable setting with a constant room temperature and biofeedback equipment. A Procomp 5DX computer software unit was used to measure autonomic reactivity during baseline and mental processing periods. After baseline monitoring indicated stabilization of autonomic measures, each child was asked to think about being in a quiet, pleasant place for 120 seconds. Pulse rate, skin temperature, and electrodermal activity were recorded. A resting period followed, and each child was then asked to think about an exciting activity, such as a preferred sports activity, for another 120 seconds. At the end of this monitoring, each child was asked to describe what had been his/her mental imagery during the two monitoring periods. Data analysis used paired t tests and repeated measures analysis of variance. For all children, the pulse rates showed significant decreases (p < .001) during quiet and relaxing imagery and significant increases (p < .001) during active imagery. Skin temperatures increased significantly (p < .001) during quiet imagery and active imagery, whereas electrodermal activity decreased (p < .001) during active imagery. Observed changes did not relate to age or sex. The results confirm our clinical observations that deliberate changing of mental imagery by children results in immediate autonomic changes. Questions evolving from this study and similar studies done in adults are: (1) Do average-thinking processes impact on autonomic changes over long periods of time and (2) do these changes ultimately impact on health, such as cardiovascular status?

Aspects of Identity and Behavioral Preference: Studies of Occupational and Recreational Choice

People differ in the relative importance they place on personal versus social aspects of their identities. Two studies were conducted to examine hypotheses regarding the relationship between an individual's salient aspect of identity and behavioral preferences. In the first study, respondents whose identities were composed primarily of personal elements rated personally-relevant job outcomes, such as personal growth and self-fulfillment, as more important in their choice of an occupation than respondents whose identities were not based heavily on personal attributes. At the same time, subjects with predominantly socially-based identities preferred jobs that offered social rewards such as status and friendships. In Study 2, respondents high rather than low in personal identity were found to participate in individual rather than team sports to a greater degree, and emphasized personal reasons for engaging in recreation. On the other hand, subjects who placed more importance on social aspects of identity preferred team sports and more strongly endorsed social reasons for participating in sports.