Sports-media reports as correlates of perceived performance among female track and field athletes in Ibadan metropolis

Abstract

Female athletes have been known to complain about sexism (gender bias and sexist comments by the sports-media) opining that it impacts negatively on their perception of performance. This research investigated the impact of sports-media narratives (positive or negative) on female track and field athletes' perceived performance in the Ibadan metropolis. A survey research design was used. It was anchored on the Hypodermic Needle Theory and Media Agenda Setting Theory, which stresses audience weakness and malleability in the face of the deliberate media onslaught. Three (3) Female Athletic Clubs were conveniently selected and the 120 female athletes purposively sampled for the study. Author-developed and validated Female Athletes Sports-media Response Questionnaire (FASRQ) with (r=86) was the instrument for data collection. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Results indicated positive significant relationship between positive sports-media narrative and perceived performance among female track and field athletes in Ibadan metropolis (r = .785**, N= 117, p < .05) and positive significant relationship between negative sports-media narrative and perceived performance among female track and field athletes in Ibadan metropolis (r = .638**, N= 117, P < .05). It was recommended that sports-media should endeavor to balance their reportage, be neutral and objective, and portray a good image of female track and field athletes in their narratives.