OVERVIEW

The first such study in a decade, it was constructed to describe school, family, and gender factors associated with career dreams, decisiveness, and choice for black male and female athletes and non-athletes.

DESIGN

The study was conducted at three schools in a large midwestern city. Four hundred and forty-six black high school juniors and seniors participated. The Career Measurement Survey was created and used for this study, which considered three factors: gender, grades and athletic participation. The criterion measures included career dreams, marriage and family in ten years, clarity of occupation, success in occupation, and professional sport participation in ten years.

FINDINGS

Results showed little difference in school factors, family factors, and gender; however, career dreams of the athletes were often overstated relative to other black high school students. Most student athletes expected to be married in ten years, have few children, and be successful. Many males believed that they would be professional athletes in ten years. They also indicated a clear sense of vocational identity, needed little occupational information, had barriers set, and had chosen careers in social and realistic occupations.

IMPLICATIONS

• It seems that athletic involvement helps boost the self-esteem of urban, black males and females. Most of the athletes believed that they would be successful—at the rate of three-to-one in comparison to their nonathlete peers.
• In an age when self-esteem and dreams have been stolen from the urban teen, athletics helps the urban teen set goals, clarify roles, and build self-esteem. It is paramount to have some kind of athletic involvement in urban work.

Rob Zarges cCYS