Sport Financial Challenges Interview Guide

Description

The Sport Financial Challenges Interview Guide (Allison-Abaunza & Woodburn, 2025) was developed to explore the financial difficulties faced by families with youth participating in competitive sports. This instrument was specifically designed for a study conducted in Canada, focusing on mothers from low-income families whose children were engaged in a Sport-études soccer program in the province of Quebec. The study aimed to investigate both exclusionary and inclusionary experiences related to financial constraints within this context.

This interview guide comprises nine primary items, each containing multiple sub-items designed by the authors to capture the nuanced financial struggles encountered by these families. The qualitative nature of this tool allows for an in-depth exploration of financial stressors, coping mechanisms, and the impact of economic barriers on youth participation in competitive sports.

Authors and Affiliations

This instrument was developed by Alexandro Allison-Abaunza and Andrea Woodburn, both affiliated with Université Laval in Canada.

• Alexandro Allison-Abaunza is associated with the Research Chair in Safety and Integrity in Sport (SIMS) at Université Laval.
• Andrea Woodburn is part of the Department of Physical Education at the same institution.

For further inquiries, Alexandro Allison-Abaunza can be contacted via email at [email protected].

Purpose

The primary objective of the Sport Financial Challenges Interview Guide is to examine the experiences of financial exclusion and inclusion among families with youth participating in competitive sports. Specifically, it seeks to understand how economic barriers influence access to sports programs, the financial sacrifices made by families, and the strategies employed to sustain their children’s participation.

Construct

The instrument is designed to assess the financial challenges associated with sport participation among families from low-income backgrounds. It captures various aspects of financial strain, including costs related to equipment, travel, training, and competition fees, as well as the psychological and social impacts of financial hardship on both parents and children.

Instrument Type

The Sport Financial Challenges Interview Guide is a qualitative inventory/questionnaire designed to elicit open-ended responses. This methodological approach allows researchers to gain deeper insights into personal experiences, financial coping mechanisms, and the broader social implications of financial barriers in youth sports.

Format and Number of Items

The instrument consists of nine primary items, each with multiple sub-items that guide respondents in providing detailed narratives about their experiences. The open-ended nature of the questions ensures that participants can elaborate on their financial struggles, their strategies for overcoming economic obstacles, and their perspectives on systemic support or lack thereof.

Reliability and Validity

No reliability or validity data have been reported for this instrument. Given its qualitative nature, the focus is on gathering rich, descriptive data rather than producing standardized psychometric properties. Future research may involve further validation efforts to enhance the instrument’s credibility and applicability in broader populations.

Test Methodology

The Sport Financial Challenges Interview Guide employs qualitative assessment methods, utilizing open-ended responses to capture the lived experiences of low-income families in the context of competitive sports. This methodological approach allows researchers to analyze emergent themes related to financial strain, resilience, and institutional support mechanisms.

Population Group and Sample Characteristics

This instrument was developed and tested with a Canadian sample of mothers from low-income families whose children were enrolled in a Sport-études soccer program. While the study focused on female respondents, future applications of the instrument may extend to other family members and broader demographic groups.

• Age Group: Adults (18 years and older)
• Population Details: Human; Female
• Location: Canada

Keywords and Index Terms

The Sport Financial Challenges Interview Guide addresses multiple thematic areas related to sports participation and financial hardship, including:

Keywords:

• Family Attitudes
• Financial Challenges
• Participation
• Sports

Index Terms:

• Athletic Participation
• Family Crises
• Financial Strain
• Parental Attitudes
• Sports (Attitudes Toward)
• Stress and Coping Measures
• Family and Parenting Measures
• Sport and Exercise Measures
• Family Income

Items of the Sport Financial Challenges Interview Guide

The Sport Financial Challenges Interview Guide comprises nine main items, each with multiple sub-items designed to investigate financial challenges in-depth. These items are not publicly available. Researchers interested in obtaining the full set of items should contact the authors or the publisher for access.

Reference

Allison-Abaunza, A., & Woodburn, A. (2025). “The truth? I play a lot with my credit card”: A multiple-case study regarding financial challenges in families with youth participating in competitive soccer. Journal of Sport & Social Issues, 49(1), 40–66. https://doi.org/10.1177/01937235241305132

Sport Financial Challenges Interview Guide: Components and Corresponding Questions

This interview guide utilizes the Process-Person-Context-Time (PPCT) model to explore the financial challenges associated with children’s sports participation.