Examination of the Experience of Music in Sport Among NCAA Division I Athletes: An Existential Phenomenological Investigation

Music plays a central role in people's everyday lives (Rentfrow & Gosling, 2003). Research shows that music can effect arousal regulation (Lukas, n.d.; Nilsson, Unosson, & Rawal, 2005), motivation (Karageorghis & Terry, 1997), and mood levels (Gfeller, 1988). Research has also shown that music can be a facilitator to athletic performance (Dorney & Goh, 1992; Karageorghis & Terry, 1997; & Krumhans, 2002). Although a great amount of research exists that examines music in sport, little research has been found that examines this phenomenon from an existential phenomenological perspective. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the Division I athletes' experience of music in sport from an existential phenomenological perspective. The participants were 7 (four males and three females) NCAA Division I collegiate athletes from a southeastern university. Utilizing a phenomenological approach to analyze the data, the current research attempted to examine the experience of music in sport. The results suggest, athletes utilize music for arousal regulation, concentration, mood enhancement, and team cohesion.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Kinesiology (M.S.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis (open access)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Health and Kinesiology

Year dc:date.available

2007

Author dc:creator

• Sorenson, Lacey Marie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Jim Klein
• Tony Lachowetz

• ETD
• Music
• Arousal
• Focus
• Mood
• Team
• Sports
• Psychological aspects

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/83

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-1083