A qualitative exploration of adolescents' commitment to athletics and the arts

This study sought to enhance, through qualitative methods, an understanding of the factors that influence adolescents' commitments to extracurricular activities over time. Ile obtained semistructured interview data from 41 ad olescents who had been highly involved in athletics or the arts since middl e childhood. Ic examined their interpretations of the factors that supporte d or hindered their continued involvement in these activities over the year s. Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed that psychological factors, perceptions of the context, and emerging identity all played a role in dec isions to remain involved or quit. Perceived competence and peer relationsh ips emerged as important psychological factors, whereas perceptions of chal lenge and costs and benefits were important contextual influences. We discu ss implications of the findings for the implementation of extracurricular p rograms that support adolescent development.