Dana Young

Supervisors:

Dr Karen Block and Prof Lisa Gibbs

PhD Title:

“Peering into the black box”: Understanding the contextual factors that generate social capital and promote health and wellbeing for refugee and migrant young people through sports participation

Abstract:

This research will explore whether and how sports participation can build social capital, wellbeing and a sense of community for young people from diverse backgrounds across different settings. There is much research reviewing the use of sport for community development, but there is an identified gap in the literature concerning the specific contextual factors that determine if and how sports participation can generate social capital and integration for those who are socially excluded and promote social cohesion. Targeting young people provides the opportunity to further understand individual and environmental factors that may develop social capital and positive mental health, particularly for those from refugee, migrant and socially disadvantaged backgrounds; and the impacts and outcomes at the community level.