Influence of Organized Recreational Sport Program Participation on Resilience of Child Offenders in Rehabilitation Schools in Kenya

Abstract

Purpose: Participation in organized sports has been increasingly recognized as a valuable intervention for enhancing psychosocial outcomes among at-risk youth, including child offenders. This study examined the influence of an eight-week organized recreational sport program on resilience among child offenders in Kenyan rehabilitation schools.

Methodology: Utilizing a quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design, the research involved 188 participants (boys and girls aged 11–18 years) selected through quota sampling from five government rehabilitation institutions: three boys’ schools (Getathuru, Wamumu, Kabete, Othaya) and two girls’ schools (Kirigiti, Dagoretti). Resilience was measured using the validated Child and Youth Resilience Measure-Revised (CYRM-R). Data were collected via structured questionnaires before and immediately after the intervention period. Attendance was monitored through checklists to ensure program fidelity. Quantitative analysis was performed using SPSS version 24. Descriptive statistics summarized participant demographics and resilience scores, while paired-sample inferential tests assessed pre-post changes in resilience levels.

Findings: Quantitative analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in resilience following the eight-week intervention (p < 0.001). Pre-intervention mean and standard deviation resilience score was 30.82 ± 5.78, rising substantially to 44.82 ± 3.53 post-intervention. The Mann-Whitney U test confirmed large effect size differences (Z = –12.857, p < 0.001). Resilience category distribution shifted dramatically: low resilience dropped from 42 to 0 participants, while high resilience rose from 16 to 126 participants, indicating the organized recreational sport program markedly enhanced participants’ adaptive coping, sense of belonging, and psychological strength.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: These findings provide empirical support for the integration of structured recreational sports into juvenile rehabilitation programs in Kenya. Organized team-based activities appear to foster key resilience factors, such as adaptive coping, sense of belonging, and positive social connections, which are critical for successful reintegration into society. The study recommends that policymakers and rehabilitation school administrators prioritize gender-responsive sports programming, allocate resources for facilities and coaching, and incorporate regular physical activity as a core component of psychosocial rehabilitation strategies. Future research should explore long-term effects, comparative designs with control groups, and the mechanisms underlying sport-induced resilience gains in this population.