Leonard Winner ABOKIRI

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.