DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN KINETICS AND SPORTS SCIENCE

This work is aimed at investigating the impact of sports on the mental health and self-esteem of student athletes using university of benin as a case study. Four research questions were raised for the study. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consisted of 235 student athletes of the University of Benin. The data was collected using simple random sampling technique and a sample size of 118 student athletes from university of Benin. The research Instrument used for the study was a self-structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed using frequency and percentage for the analysis of the research questions. The results revealed that sports plays a crucial role on student athletes’ mental health and self-esteem such as stress, fatigue, emotional fluctuations, burnout rates etc. In conclusion, student athletes are attempting to get better in sports performance but lack the full knowledge on sports psychology and the failure to practice the known coping strategies leads to a decline in their participation and performance, they should also train together and work along with their coaches by having a close relationship with them. All these improve their mindset and help to improve their performance and overall wellbeing. Recommendations are made that student athletes should approach the topic with an open mind and avoid making assumptions or judgments. By acknowledging the value of sports in promoting mental wellbeing and self-esteem, people can develop a better understanding and appreciation for its impact.

This study investigated the influence of social media on sports participation among student athletes of the University of Benin. Specifically, it examined the relationship between social media use and sports participation, gender, age, and level of study on the student athlete. A correlation research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised of 254 registered student athletes of the University of Benin during the 2024/2025 academic session, and the entire population was used as the sample. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled “Social Media and Sports Participation among Student Athletes of the University of Benin.” The instrument was validated by experts in Human Kinetics and a reliability of .719 was obtained. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that there was no significant relationship between social media use and sports participation among student athletes of the University of Benin. Furthermore, social media use did not significantly influence sports participation based on gender, age, or level of study. It was therefore concluded that social media use does not significantly affect sports participation among student athletes at the University of Benin. It was recommended, among others, that student athletes should maintain a balanced use of social media to avoid distractions and continue active participation in sports.

This study was carried out to investigate the personal and environmental factors influencing gender in sports performance among undergraduates of Wellspring University. To guide this study, three research questions were raised with corresponding hypotheses that were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The descriptive survey research design was adopted in this study. The population of this study was made up of 1714 undergraduates. The sample size of 400 undergraduates was selected using the Taro Yamane formula due to the large size of the population. The research instrument for the study was a self-constructed questionnaire. The statistical analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics of frequency and percentage for the bio-data, inferential statistics of simple multiple regression was used in testing hypotheses 1 to 3 corresponding to research questions 1 to 3. The formulated hypotheses tested were set at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of this research based on the research questions raised and hypotheses formulated showed the following; there was a positive weak relationship between male and female students sports participation based on personal factors, which was not significant. Also, personal factors was the highest predictor of students’ sports participation; there was a positive weak significant relationship between male and female students sports participation based on environmental factors; as environmental factors was the highest predictor of students sports participation; there was a positive weak significant contributions of personal and environmental factors to students sports participation; as environmental factors was the highest predictor of students sports participation. Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that there was a positive weak and insignificant relationship between male and female students sports participation based on personal factors, with personal factors being the highest predictors of students sports participation. Also, there was a positive weak and significant relationship ix between male and female students sports participation based on environmental factors, with environmental factors being the highest predictors of students sports participation. Lastly, there was a positive weak significant contributions of personal and environmental factors to students’ sports participation with environmental factors being the highest predictor of students’ sports participation. From the findings of the study it was recommended that; the necessary and ideal environment should be created to bring out the best among undergraduates in relation to their sports participation; undergraduates irrespective of their gender should be encouraged by all and sundry to regularly participate in sports; experts such as sports psychologists and other significant others should be able to manage undergraduates psychological and personal issues effectively to make them gain full satisfaction and enjoyment while engaging in sporting events.

This research investigated the stress management techniques, sports performance of student athletes among soccer players in Benin Metroplis. A correlation survey research design was employed in the study, five research questions were made in the study and four hypothesis were formulated. A sample of 135 soccer players were selected by multistage sampling procedure. The Instrument was validated by three experts, two from Department of Human Kinetics and sports science and one expert from the Department of Educational Evaluation and Counseling Psychology, all from the University of Benin. The Split-half method of reliability was used and a reliability index of 0.78 was obtained.
Data was analyzed using Descriptive statistics of Frequency units and Percentages while Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to analyzed the hypotheses. The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant relationship between stress relaxation technique and student- athlete sports performance, stress cognitive restructuring technique and student- athlete sports performance, stress exercise technique and student- athlete sports performance, stress goal setting technique and student- athlete sports performance. It was concluded that there is a significant relationship between stress management techniques and student- athlete sports performance. It was therefore recommended that sports psychologist should be attached to student- athlete to help manage their stress.

Academic performance of students in universities has been associated with underlying problems, one of which is that of students’ stress. This study therefore aims to determine the influence of stress on the academic performance of undergraduates in University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State. In order to carry out the task, four research questions were raised and one hypothesis formulated which was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population of the study comprised 6576 undergraduates. The data was collected using simple random technique and a sample size of 380 undergraduate students from the eight (8) departments in the Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Benin city, was used for the study. The research instrument used for the study was a self-structured questionnaire. The validity of the instrument was subjected to scrutiny and the test-retest reliability technique was used to ascertain its reliability. The correlation coefficient computed was 0.82 indicating that the instrument was reliable. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages and means, while chi-square statistics was used to test the hypothesis. Results revealed that undergraduate students of University of Benin were having stressed times in certain areas of their academic life such as: overall study habits, organizing time, listening and taking notes, writing test/examinations, financial concerns/hardships, campus environment, and course requirements. Majority (66.6%) of the respondents reported to have high stress levels while, the stress level for 18.9% of the respondents is moderate and for 14.5% of the respondents, it is low. The chi-square test carried out confirmed that there is a significant relationship between students’ stress levels and their academic performance in the University of Benin. In conclusion, students have to set priorities in light of their resources to avoid stressful situations. Recommendations were made that stress intervention programs be designed to address stress of University students. Coping strategies that deals with one's own thoughts and feelings can be facilitated by accessible professional and peer counselling, student support groups, and adequate course advising. Also, students themselves must develop effective study habits by giving appropriate time that must fulfil the demand of their course.

This study examined the influence of coaching styles on the performance of student-athletes at the University of Benin. The purpose was to identify the dominant coaching styles used by coaches and determine how these styles affect athletes’ performance, academic motivation, and overall development. The study also explored athletes’ perceptions of coaches’ leadership and communication, as well as challenges associated with applying coaching styles effectively. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population consisted of 204 student- athletes, from which 102 were selected using purposive and convenience sampling techniques. Data was collected using a validated and reliable self-structured questionnaire, with reliability confirmed through the test–retest method and Cronbach’s Alpha. Descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data. Findings showed that democratic and supportive coaching styles were the most dominant among coaches. Coaching styles were found to significantly influence athletic performance, confidence, discipline, and academic motivation. The study also identified challenges such as
inadequate resources, large team sizes, academic pressure, and limited institutional support. It was recommended that coaches receive continuous training on effective leadership and athlete-centered methods, and that the university strengthen its support systems to enhance coaching effectiveness and student-athlete performance.

This study investigated the relationship between digital health literacy and physical activity engagement among sports enthusiasts within the University of Benin community. A descriptive survey design was employed; with a sample of 100 sports enthusiasts’ selected using purposive sampling technique. A validated questionnaire was used to assess digital health literacy levels and physical activity engagement which was established by the researcher and validated by two experts in the field of Human Kinetics and Sports Science. The data analysis of respondents’ bio data was done using mean, standard deviations and Pearson Correlation used in the analysis of data and testing of hypothesis. ANCOVA Statistics on difference in the frequency or intensity of physical activity between sports enthusiasts with higher digital health literacy levels and lower digital health literacy levels was also used. Data analysis revealed that majority of the sports enthusiasts had a high level of digital health literacy, which positively affected their physical activity engagement. A significant relationship was found between digital health literacy and physical activity engagement. However, no significant difference was observed in the frequency or intensity of physical activity between sports
enthusiasts with higher digital health literacy levels and those with lower digital health literacy levels. The conclusion that was made from the result of the research is that majority of the UNIBEN sports enthusiasts had a high level of digital health literacy, thus positively affecting their physical activity engagement to a high extent. The study recommends enlightening sports enthusiasts on the advantages of physical activity engagement using digital health literacy and increasing the frequency and intensity of physical activity to benefit from its health outcomes

This study investigated the role of technology in enhancing sports event management at the University of Benin. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised all 44,500 undergraduate students, with a sample of 381 students selected from three faculties using a multistage sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled "Technology and Sports Event Management Questionnaire (TSEM-Q)." The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, specifically mean and standard deviation, to answer the research questions. The findings revealed that event management software significantly enhances the planning, coordination, and operational efficiency of sports events. Online registration platforms were found to reduce administrative stress, increase participation rates, and improve communication effectiveness. Furthermore, live streaming technology was shown to boost audience engagement, expand the global reach of university sports, and attract potential sponsors. Based on these findings, it was concluded that technology plays a crucial role in improving the management and delivery of sports events at the University of Benin. The study recommends the full integration of event management software, the adoption of online registration systems for all university sports events, and the strategic use of live streaming technology to maximize audience engagement and sponsorship opportunities.

This research examines the evolving mechanisms through which brands activate their sports sponsorships and evaluates the subsequent impact of these strategies on key marketing objectives: audience engagement and brand visibility. The study posits that the contemporary marketing landscape has rendered traditional, passive sponsorship characterized primarily by static logo placement ineffectual for achieving meaningful brand-consumer connections. Consequently, brands are increasingly adopting a more dynamic and integrated approach, deploying inventive, interactive tactics to maximize their investment. These tactics include, but are not limited to, digital and social media campaigns, strategic athlete partnerships, immersive fan experiences, and authentic community-focused initiatives. To gather empirical data, this study employed a survey methodology, distributing questionnaires to organizations actively engaged in sports sponsorship. The analysis of the collected data reveals a clear correlation between strategic activation and marketing success. Specifically, sponsorships that are meticulously planned and deliberately tailored to a target audience demonstrably enhance brand recognition and foster deeper, more resonant audience engagement. Nevertheless, the research also identifies significant persistent challenges that hinder optimal implementation. These obstacles include poorly defined campaign objectives, constraints imposed by limited budgets, a lack of authentic alignment between the brand and the sponsored event or property, and the ongoing difficulty of accurately measuring the return on investment (ROI) of sponsorship activities. In conclusion, the findings underscore a critical imperative for brands to transition from mere sponsorship to strategic activation. This necessitates an approach that is inherently more strategic, deeply audience-centric, and continuously innovative. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the indispensable need for robust evaluation frameworks, enabling brands to precisely track impact, demonstrate value, and refine future sponsorship strategies for sustained competitive advantage

This study investigated the Impact of Nutrition on Muscle Recovery and Performance of University of Benin Athletes. The study adopted the descriptive research design. The population of the study consists of 12o students athletes of the University of Benin. A survey was conducted among 36 participants, 9 football athletes, 6 basketball athletes, 6 volleyball athletes, 3 handball athletes, 6 athletics athletes, 3 swimming athletes and 3 hockey athletes. The sampling technique applied was the fish bowl method of the simple random sampling. The participants filled a self-structured questionnaire which was validated by experts in the department of Human Kinetics and Sports Science, and was the research instrument administered by the researcher. The data was analyzed using the using frequency percentage and the mean and standard deviation. The study was able to find out the Impact of Nutrition on muscle recovery in athletes, how nutritional status impact performance in various sports, the differences in the nutritional needs of male and female athletes. The study also found out that personalized nutrition plans enhance performance and improve injury and that hydration influences performance of athletes during training activities and competition. The study recommended therefore that athletes should pay attention to their nutritional needs to know what works best for them, athletes should incorporate meals such as sport snacks during trainings and competition to help in better performance and quick muscle recovery, athletes should be educated on what type of meals to take before, during and after training activities for quick muscle recovery and during competitions, water, energy drinks, sport water should be readily available for athletes during competition to keep them hydrated at all times during the period of the competition to reduce fatigue and enhance performa