Social Connectedness for International Student-Athletes in Collegiate Athletics

Abstract

This study explores the experiences of international student-athletes (ISAs) of Latin American origin at a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (D1) 4-year public institution in the Western part of the United States. ISAs of Latin American origin comprise less than 1% of the entire NCAA D1 student-athlete population (NCAA 2023). ISAs of Latin American origin navigate their new day-to-day lives without a trusted support system. Social connectedness means feeling supported, valued, and cared for by others with a sense of belonging (CDC 2024). Drawing on discourse analysis, which is informed by the linguistic anthropology field, this research study employs interviews to examine the impact of social connectedness in the college-athletic experience of ISAs of Latin American origin. The findings reveal the challenges ISAs face and how social connectedness helps them overcome them. I conclude by reiterating the sociopolitical climate in the U.S., including Trump’s executive orders (2025) and how it can impact the college experience of ISAs of Latin American origin.