Tackling the Transition: A Life Skills Intervention to Improve College Adjustment, College Self

155 Pages·2017·2.19 MB·English

Georgia Southern University
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Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of
Summer 2016
Tackling the Transition: A Life Skills Intervention to
Improve College Adjustment, College Self-Efficacy, and
Transference of Life Skills of Freshmen Student-Athletes
Kendra Grant
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Grant, Kendra, "Tackling the Transition: A Life Skills Intervention to Improve College
Adjustment, College Self-Efficacy, and Transference of Life Skills of Freshmen Student-
Athletes" (2016). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1469.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/1469
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TACKLING THE TRANSITION: A LIFE SKILLS INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE
COLLEGE ADJUSTMENT, COLLEGE SELF-EFFICACY, AND THE
TRANSFERENCE OF LIFE SKILLS OF FRESHMEN STUDENT-ATHLETES

by
KENDRA GRANT
(Under the Direction of Brandonn Harris)

ABSTRACT

The present study explored the effects of a life skills intervention on college freshmen
student-athletes’ college adjustment, college self-efficacy, and the transference of life
skills. The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of implementing life
skills programming to student-athletes in order to smooth the transition period from high
school to college. Hypotheses were that participants would improve in college
adjustment, college self-efficacy, and transference of life skills from participation in the
life skills intervention. Participants included three freshman student-athletes, who played
various sports at a Division 1 University located in the southeast. The primary researcher
conducted a single-subject B-A-B design to deliver the intervention over 9 sessions for
30 minutes to an hour each session. Results revealed that the life skills intervention was
effective for two out of three of the participants on most of the subscales within the three
measures: college adjustment, college self-efficacy, and the ability to transfer the skills
learned in session to other domains.

INDEX WORDS: Transition, Freshman student-athletes, and Life Skills
TACKLING THE TRANSITION: A LIFE SKILLS INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE
COLLEGE ADJUSTMENT OF FRESHMEN STUDENT-ATHLETES
by
KENDRA GRANT

B.A., Mercer University, 2013

A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Georgia Southern University in Partial
Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

MASTER OF KINESIOLOGY

STATESBORO, GEORGIA
© 2016

KENDRA GRANT

All Rights Reserved
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TACKLING THE TRANSITION: A LIFE SKILLS INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE
COLLEGE ADJUSTMENT, COLLEGE SELF-EFFICAY, AND TRANSEFERENCE
OF LIFE SKILLS OF FRESHMEN STUDENT-ATHLETES
by
KENDRA GRANT

Major Professor: Brandonn Harris
Committee: Daniel Czech
Samuel Todd

Electronic Version Approved:
July 2016
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DEDICATION

I would like to dedicate this document to my amazing grandmother, Martha
Grant, who has been my rock throughout this process. I appreciate her constant love and
support she has shown me always, but especially when I needed her the most. I would
also like to dedicate this to all of my family and friends who supported me along this
journey. Whether it was a listening ear, words of encouragement, or just being there, I
greatly appreciate it. I hope to make all of the people that have been in my corner proud
not only for the things I accomplish, but for the person I become throughout the journey.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to take the time to acknowledge another group of individuals who have been
a huge supporting cast for me throughout this journey, my thesis committee members. A
special thank you to Dr. Brandonn Harris, Dr. Daniel Czech, and Dr. Samuel Todd who
guided me from the start to the finish. A special thanks to Dr. Brandonn Harris, my thesis
chair for always being there when I needed him. I appreciate his patience and willingness
to work with me in order to help me get to where I needed to be. He has been an integral
part of this process, and I would not have been able to do this without his support. I also
would like to thank the staff in the institution’s athletic department and the athletes for
helping me with my study. Having a strong support system through this journey has been
priceless. To all that have influenced me during my time at Georgia Southern
University…THANK YOU!
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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Participants’ scores on the meeting and greeting subscale p. 128
Figure 2. Participants’ scores on the managing emotions subscale p. 129
Figure 3. Participants’ scores on the goal setting subscale p. 131
Figure 4. Participants’ scores on the resolving conflict subscale p. 132
Figure 5. Participants’ scores on the making healthy choices subscale p. 134
Figure 6. Participants’ scores on appreciating differences subscale p. 135
Figure 7. Participants’ scores on getting help from others subscale p. 137
Figure 8. Participants’ scores on helping others subscale p. 138
Figure 9. Participants’ scores on academic adjustment subscale p. 140

Figure 10. Participants’ scores on social adjustment subscale p. 141
Figure 11. Participants’ scores on personal-emotional adjustment subscale p. 143
Figure 12. Participants’ scores on attachment adjustment subscale p. 145
Figure 13. Participants’ scores on overall college adjustment full scale p. 147
Figure 14. Participants’ scores on course efficacy p. 148
Figure 15. Participants’ scores on roommate efficacy p. 150

Figure 16. Participants’ scores on social efficacy p. 151

Figure 17. Participants’ scores on social integration efficacy p. 153
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEDICATION ..................................................................................................................... 2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ 3
LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ 4
CHAPTER 1
1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 7
Chapter 1 Changes experienced by freshmen student-athletes
2 METHODS .............................................................................................................. 19
DATA ANALYSIS ........................................................................................................... 34
RESULTS ......................................................................................................................... 36
DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................... 56
REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 66
APPENDICES
A DEFINITIONS AND DELIMITATIONS ................................................................... 77
B REVIEW OF LITERATURE ........................................................................................ 79
Appendix BTransition-Related challenges ......................................................... 82
Appendix B Measuring Adjustment ................................................................... 83
Appendix B Theoretical Perspectives on Transitioning Student-Athletes…….88
Appendix B Characteristics Important for Success… ....................................... 90
Appendix B Research on Life Skills Programs with Student-Athletes… ......... 98
C LIFE SKILLS TRANSFER SURVEY........................................................................ 101
D COLLEGE SELF EFFICACY INVENTORY…...................................................... 104
E SESSION MATERIALS ............................................................................................ 105
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G FIGURES ................................................................................................................... 126