Parental Perceptions on Asian American Adolescents Returning to Sport During COVID19

Abstract

Youth sports programs are beneficial in helping participants develop transferable life skills, but the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for the execution of these programs. The shelterin-place orders, virtual schooling, and lack of resources at home are common challenges that all youth have experienced. Asian American youth and their families are a community that faced additional challenges during the COVID-19 shutdowns. This population became a target of racist verbal and physical attacks throughout the pandemic. This research investigated the challenges Asian American youth and their parents face when deciding whether or not to allow their children to participate in sports. Six parents shared their perspectives on their family's general experience with COVID-19, their child's physical activity participation, and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate during the pandemic. Through qualitative methods, data was collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Seven themes were created from the data: Perceived Safety of Sports Participation During COVID-19; Balancing COVID-19 Restrictions and Physical Activity; Balancing Socializing With Fears of COVID-19; Stress, Anxiety, and Closeness During Shutdowns; Experiences with AAPI Hate and Discrimination; Interpreting AAPI Hate Crimes & Stereotypes; and Blended Asian American Families. Qualitative findings showed that the increase in Asian American hate and discrimination did not constitute a barrier that prevented families from enrolling their children in sports. All parents expressed more concern about the COVID-19 virus and the safety of their families when debating sports enrollment.