THE IMPACT OF SPORT AND NON-SPORT ACTIVITIES ON COLLEGE PERSISTENCE OF FRESHMEN

This study explored the relationship between participation in sport and non-sport activities and freshmen persistence in college. Three categories of persistence behavior were employed: (1) continuing at the same institution, (2) changing institutions, and (3) dropping out of college completely. For men and women, involvement in sports increased the probability of continuing at the same institution. For men, involvement in sports also increased the probability of changing institutions. For women, the opposite held. Men who were involved in non-sport activities were more likely to continue at the same institution, less likely to change institutions, and more likely to drop out of college completely. For women, the opposite held.