Perceptions and Motivation toward Water Safety and Aquatic Activities in College Students

As individuals reach adulthood there is a substantial reduction of participation in physical activities. Quality instruction in various physical activities, more specifically aquatics, are beneficial to an individual’s health and career. This current study examined college student’s perceptions and motivations towards the impact of aquatic instruction and water safety skills. Participants included 265 college students between the ages of 19 and 30 years old (n = 147 males, n = 118 females), enrolled in aquatic-related courses at two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Researchers used a mixed-method approach where the findings indicated that 72% of the participants reported the ability to swim, tread water, and float, 78% would enroll in additional aquatic classes, and 82% are willing to learn to swim. Quality aquatic instruction given at HBCUs can help the process of closing the gap of disparities among African Americans and their involvement in aquatics