‘My Taste Bud Is A Little Higher’ Social Support Among Student Athletes At A Tertiary Institution In Jamaica: A Sociological Case Study

This research uniquely explores the important role social support networks play in the lives of tertiary level student athletes in Jamaica. Purposive sampling was utilized to obtain data through semi- structured interviews with both support providers and HE athletes, set against existing research on support networks. The total number of participants was (n=29), a sample which comprised of three categories of support providers, namely coaches, sports administrators and lecturers, and support recipients – a small sample of Jamaican student athletes. A thematic analysis of the data was undertaken using NVivo software and manual coding. Different types of support were both expected and required by these young Jamaican athletes. They also experienced reflexive difficulties in balancing their distinctive dual identities. Providers played multiple, often overlapping, roles in providing support. However, the support provided did not always match the perceived needs of student athletes and institutional blockages were prominent. Emotional support was the most important element identified by student athletes. The findings from this research will be useful in informing policy related to support and academic success of student athletes at the tertiary level in Jamaica.