Sports-Based attitudes and self concept and their influence on sports participation among pupils with hearing impairment in a special primary school in Nandi County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out the influence of sports-based attitudes and self-concept on sports participation among pupils who are deaf in a special primary school in Nandi County, Kenya. This study sought to establish the extent of participation of pupils who are deaf in sports activities; influence of sports-based attitude, and self-concept towards sports participation. The choice of the one school in Emgwen was done because it is the only deaf school and admits pupils who are deaf in the County and beyond. The study was based on Daryl Bem theory of self-perception and Carl Rogers theory of the self. A mixed method research design was used. The study targeted a population of 106 pupils including boys and girls of Kapsabet School for the deaf. The study sample was 66 respondents. The study used purposive sampling to select respondents who participated in the study. The data was collected using a questionnaire. Data was analysed using frequencies, and percentages. Chi-square was used to test the hypotheses of the study. The study findings indicated that 80.0% of the pupils agreed that they did participate in sports because they liked playing with others; 81.7% believed that they can do any task/job as far as sports activities are concerned and 78.3% agreed that they like participating in sports naturally. An association between students’ sports-based attitude and sports participation was significant at a chi square of 30.483, df =4 and p-value of 0.000 was obtained. An association between students’ sports-based self-concept and sports participation was significant at a chi square of 84.308, df =4 and p-value of 0.003 was obtained. The study concluded that students who are deaf participated in sports because they liked playing with others. Children who participate in active sports are intrinsically motivated to do so because they have positive self-perceptions. The study came to the conclusion that among deaf students, sports participation and sports-based self-concept are significantly correlated. The study recommends that teachers and parents should encourage the pupils who are deaf to participate in sports just like other pupils. The study recommends deaf pupils should be encouraged to participate in sports since sports enhance their mental, moral, emotional and sociological aspects. Positive sports-based attitude should be inculcated among deaf pupils. The self-esteem or concept should be nurtured through positive sports experiences. The findings of the study are expected to help teachers, parents and other stakeholders foster positive self-concept and positive sports-based attitude of deaf children. Findings from the study were expected to create awareness in teachers and administrators in schools as to how best they could improve sports participation among deaf pupils