Abstract

Sports participation has benefits in many ways. These benefits include improved physical and mental health, as well as social interaction. The problem identified in this study is the lack of interest in sports participation among students of Ondo North Senatorial Districts in Ondo State. Many students who do not get engaged in extracurricular sporting activities saw it as distraction to their academic pursuits. This study, therefore, examined social determinants of student sports participation in secondary schools in Ondo North Senatorial District, Ondo State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The study employed a multistage sampling procedure. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics involving frequency counts, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions; regression, Analysis of Variance, and t-test were used to test the research hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Results revealed that peer pressure (F=2.65, p-value=0.11>0.05), religious belief (F=2.69, p-value=0.071>0.05), parental influence (F=0.85, p-value=0.11>0.05) and cultural beliefs (F=0.29, p-value=0.59>0.05) did not have significant influence on sport participation in secondary school in Ondo North Senatorial District, Ondo State, Nigeria. However, gender (t=3.37, p-value=0.00<0.05) and availability of facilities and equipment (F=6.71, p-value=0.00<0.05) had significant impact on sport participation in secondary school in Ondo North Senatorial District, Ondo State, Nigeria. Based on the findings, it was concluded that social determinants (peer pressure, religious belief, parental influence and cultural belief were not strong determinants of sport’s participation in secondary schools in Ondo North Senatorial District, Ondo State, Nigeria. It was recommended that personalized fitness programs be introduced to schools, also schools’ management should encourage students to explore their affinity for various sports. Institutions should establish equitable opportunities for both male and female students to engage in diverse sporting activities. Lastly, secondary schools’ management are advised to allocate resources toward enhancement and maintenance of athletic facilities, ensuring that equipment is readily available and accessible.