SOCIAL FACTORS INFLUENCING SPORT PARTICIPATION AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OYO WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract The study was conducted to investigate the social factors influencing sport participation among secondary school students in Oyo West Local Government Area, Oyo State. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the research; the population of the study was all 10,385 secondary school students in Oyo West Local Government, Oyo State. Multistage random sampling technique which included purposive, proportionate and random sample techniques were used to select 642 of the students. The instrument for data collection was a researchers-designed questionnaire, validated by experts and the reliability coefficient was r = .76. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency and percentage for the demographic characteristics and inferential statistics of chi-square was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Results of the study indicated that the following factors: parental influence n = 642, χ2 (9) = 505.321 > 16.92, sport facilities n = 642, χ2 (9) = 455.184 > 16.92, gender n = 642, χ2 (9) = 331.588 > 16.92, and economic status n = 642, χ2 (9) = 447.408 > 16.92 significantly influenced sport participation among secondary school students in Oyo State. It was concluded that sports participation among secondary school students is greatly influence by these social factors. Therefore, it is recommended that parents should encourage their children to participate in sports, and the government should support the school authorities in provision of adequate sport facilities for schools. Equal opportunities should be provided for both male and female students to fully participate in sports