Psychological and Socio-Economic Predictors of Athlete Retention in Kenyan Track and Field
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Abstract
This study examined psychological and socio-economic predictors of athlete retention in Kenyan track and field. Anchored in Self-Determination Theory and the Social-Ecological Model, the study assessed how motivation, confidence, mental toughness, financial reward, sponsorship, and family support influence athlete retention. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were collected from 230 track and field athletes using a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and multiple regression at the 0.05 level of significance. Correlation results showed that mental toughness had a weak but significant positive relationship with athlete retention (r = .152, p = .021), while motivation (r = -.065, p = .323) and confidence (r = -.014, p = .827) were not significant. Financial reward (r = .153, p = .020) and sponsorship (r = .195, p = .003) were significantly and positively related to athlete retention, while family support was not significant (r = .101, p = .101). Regression results showed that psychological factors did not jointly predict athlete retention, F (3, 226) = 2.204, p = .088, R² = .028, although mental toughness had a significant relative effect (β = .149, p = .024). Socio-economic factors jointly predicted athlete retention, F (3, 226) = 4.187, p = .007, R² = .053, with sponsorship emerging as the only significant relative predictor (β = .156, p = .026). The composite model was also significant, F (2, 227) = 6.717, p = .001, R² = .056. The study recommends strengthening sponsorship systems and integrating resilience-focused interventions into athlete development programmes.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Nancy Wanjiru Maina, Prof. Simon Peter Munayi, Dr Kehinde Lateef, Ashley Kaphinde (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Nancy Wanjiru Maina, Pan African University, Life and Earth Sciences Institute (PAULESI), University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Sports Management Researcher and Sports Development Practitioner affiliated with the Pan African University, Life and Earth Sciences Institute (PAULESI), University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Her research interests include Sports Management, Sports Policy Development, Athlete Development and Retention, Sports Administration, Sports Event Management, Sports Psychology, Community Development through Sport, and Sports Governance. She has conducted research on psychological and socio-economic predictors of athlete retention in Kenya and has practical experience in sports administration, policy implementation, athlete development programs, event management, and community sport initiatives.
Prof. Simon Peter Munayi, Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Senior Lecturer and Chairman, Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Nairobi, Kenya. He specializes in Physical Education Pedagogy, Sports Psychology, Inclusive Physical Education, Sports Tourism, Curriculum Development in Physical Education, and the Socio-Economic Dimensions of Athletics and Sports Development. He has over two decades of experience in teaching, research, and academic leadership, with extensive contributions to curriculum development, sports policy, postgraduate supervision, and evidence-based sports education.
Dr Kehinde Lateef, Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Senior Lecturer at Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of Ibadan. He is a member of the Nigeria Association for Physical, Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance (NAPHER-SD), the School Health Educators and Professional Association in Nigeria (SEPHAN), and the Teachers' Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). His academic and professional interests span health education, physical education, sports, recreation, school health, and related fields.
Ashley Kaphinde, Department of Sports Science, Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), Malawi.
Ashley Kaphinde is an Assistant Lecturer in Sports Science at the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), Malawi. He holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Sports Management and Policy Development from the Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute (PAULESI), University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and a Bachelor of Science in Sports Science with Distinction from MUST. His research interests include sports management, sports policy development, athlete development and retention, performance analysis, coaching practice, sports governance, and applied sport science. He has professional experience in sports development, athlete performance testing, sports event management, curriculum development, and the integration of sports science principles into athlete development programmes.
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