Societal Expectation
Society places expectations on individuals in all different areas of life. Student-athletes experience societal expectation when it comes to athletic and academic success. They feel the immense pressure involved in achieving "success" both on the field and in the classroom. A study done by Jeffrey Lucas found that college athletes earn fewer bachelor's degrees, take longer to graduate, have lower grades, and undertake an easier curriculum. A reason explaining why student-athletes experience less academic success is because often times they have unrealistic expectations of pursuing a professional career. This diverts their attention onto a goal that isn't as mainstream as academic success. In addition, the expectation placed on student-athletes to perform in order to maintain a scholarship or spot on the team often times diverts a majority of their focus from academics to athletics. However, there are also studies that support the social benefits of being involved on a sports team including the reduction of risky behavior and the enhancing of development in adolescents. Then there is the idea that the expectation of being a top athlete conflicts with that of being a top student. If student-athletes fail to balance their athletics and academics their emotional life is prone to negative consequences. Therefore, the societal expectation placed on student-athletes has a substantial impact on their well-being.
Resources:
Athlete's Expectations |