Towards Recruitment Strategies for College Male Students in Dance Sports
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.57125/FED.2025.09.25.03Keywords:
Dance sports, recruitment strategies, participation, interest, inclusivityAbstract
This study aimed to evaluate male students’ levels of interest and participation in Standard and Latin dance sports, examine the relationship between these two variables, and propose evidence-based recruitment strategies to increase males' involvement in dance sports. The novelty of this study lies in its being the first to explore this research gap within the Chinese context. The study aimed to evaluate the levels of interest and participation in Standard and Latin dance sports among male students, examine the relationship between these two variables, and present evidence-based recruitment strategies to increase male involvement in dance sports. The descriptive-correlational study took place at three selected universities in Anhui Province, China. In the study, an adequate sample size of 242 male student dancers was obtained by using a stratified random sampling method. Interest and participation in dance sports were assessed by means of a researcher-created questionnaire. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation. Furthermore, Spearman’s rho correlation was utilized to examine the relationships between variables. Findings revealed that male students have a high level of interest (M = 2.83, SD = 0.14) but a very low level of participation (M = 1.50, SD = 0.12) in dance sports for both Standard and Latin styles. In addition, a strong positive correlation (ρ = 0.761, p < 0.01) between the level of interest and participation in dance sports was found. Based on the findings, a recruitment strategy targeting male dance sports participants was proposed. The findings underscore the need for inclusive strategies and curricular integration to enhance dance sport participation and inform policies that promote engagement and gender equity.
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