Balancing the Game: Strain, Coping, and Persistence Among Black Male Student-Athletes at Division I Institutions

Abstract

This chapter explores the major strains Black male student-athletes experience while attending a Division I Power-Five conference institution and the coping strategies they use to mitigate those strains while balancing the dual roles of student and athlete. Many scholars contend that sports are as important as academics in the lives of students, particularly for minority students who often view athletics as a pathway to educational opportunities that may otherwise be inaccessible. Although Black student-athletes now exceed their White counterparts in many revenue-generating Division I sports, their graduation rates continue to lag behind. Using a qualitative case study approach and the Bowman Role Strain and Adaptation Model as the theoretical framework, this study examined the strains and coping mechanisms that influence Black male student-athlete persistence.

The findings identified time as the primary strain experienced by participants. The lack of time subsequently created additional strains associated with academics, campus engagement, and meeting the expectations of their sport. The study also identified athletic student services, family support, religion and spirituality, self-motivation, and resilience as critical coping strategies used to manage stress and persist academically. Implications from this study include the need for stronger collaboration between athletics and academics, enhanced campus-wide counseling and advising services, and institutional efforts aimed at reducing pressures that intensify the unique challenges of the student-athlete experience.