Experiences and coping responses of sexual harassment among Puerto Rican female student-athletes.

The central purpose of this study was to explore sexual harassment experiences and behavioral responses among collegiate female student-athletes. This study extended previous research to a different cultural context, and used a different conceptual framework (i.e., Fitzgerald et al.’s three-factor structural model) to understand sexual harassment behaviors and coping responses in sport settings. Specifically, two psychology surveys reflecting the frequency of incidents and coping responses for the three behavioral elements of sexual harassment (gender harassment, unwanted sexual attention, and sexual coercion) were integrated into the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire for Sport (SEQ-Sport). The central purpose of this study was to explore sexual harassment experiences and behavioral responses among collegiate female student-athletes. This study extended previous research to a different cultural context, and used a different conceptual framework (i.e., Fitzgerald et al.’s three-factor structural model) to understand sexual harassment behaviors and coping responses in sport settings. Specifically, two psychology surveys reflecting the frequency of incidents and coping responses for the three behavioral elements of sexual harassment (gender harassment, unwanted sexual attention, and sexual coercion) were integrated into the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire for Sport (SEQ-Sport). The theoretical framework used in this study expanded the understanding of sexual harassment in sports. In addition, as the first attempt to investigate sexual harassment in Puerto Rican sport, this study fills a gap in the sport literature about the manifestations of sexual harassment and coping responses in a particular cultural context

Physical Activity and Quality of life.

Physical activity (PA) professionals and participants recognize enhanced quality of life (QoL) as a benefit of and motivator for PA. However, QoL measures are often problematic and rarely consider the participants’ perspective. This paper focuses on recent findings from a larger project on the role of QoL in PA and health promotion. More specifically, we focus on the views of participants and potential participants to better understand the relationship of PA and QoL. In earlier stages of the project we began with a conceptual model of QoL and developed a survey. We now focus on participants’ views and ask two questions: 1) what is QoL? and 2) how does PA relate to QoL? We first asked those questions of a large sample of university students and community participants as open-ended survey items, and then asked focus groups of community participants. Overall, participants’ responses reflected the multidimensional, integrative QoL model, but the responses and patterns provided information that may not be picked up with typical survey measures. Findings suggest that PA contributes to multiple aspects of QoL, that social and emotional benefits are primary motivators and outcomes for participants, and that the meaning of QoL and PA benefits is subjective and contextualized, varying across individuals and settings. Programs that directly target and highlight the multiple dimensions and integrative QoL, while considering the individual participants and contexts, may enhance both PA motivation and participants’ health and QoL