An Examination of the Effects of School-Based Varsity Sport Participation and Parental Involvement on Male Academic Behaviors
Using data from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002), we developed and empirically tested a conceptual model to assess the longitudinal impact of school- based athletic participation and parental involvement, along with other factors, on the college-bound behaviors of male high school seniors attending public schools in the U.S. The conceptual model was tested using multiple regression and path analysis. Results indicate that 10th  grade varsity sport is a significant positive predictor of 12th grade college-bound behaviors, net antecedent model variables (including SES and prior achievement). Additionally, African American parents are significantly more involved with their sons than white parents are, and African American students are significantly more likely to engage in college-bound behaviors. Implications for educational policy are discussed.