Sport participation in adolescence : associations with health perceptions and health-related behaviors

• Introduction: Sport participation during adolescence is assumed to have a positive influence on perceived health and health-related behaviors. However, few studies have examined the relationship between sport participation and health among adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between sport participation and several health indicators (well-being, physical activity, psychosomatic symptoms, leisure-time and school-related stress, sedentary behaviors, and substance use) among Swedish junior high and high school students. Methods: Data was collected as a part of the LEVA-survey, a large health and lifestyle-survey annually distributed to junior high and high school students in several municipalities in northern Sweden. The current sample consisted of 7665 students categorized as sport participants (n=4700) and non-participants (n=2965). Individual logistic regression analyses were performed for each health indicator with sport participation as predictor variable. Separate analyses were conducted for gender as well as for junior high and high school students. Results: Similar patterns with minor differences emerged for gender, junior high and high school students. Overall, sport participants were more likely to report higher levels of well-being and physical activity, and were less likely to report psychosomatic symptoms, sedentary behaviors, and substance use. Only female sport participants in junior high school were less likely to report school-related stress than non-participants, whereas no significant differences were found for alcohol use among high school students.Discussion: Generally, these findings strengthen the assumptions of the positive effects of sport participation during adolescence, but there is a need to more closely examine direct and indirect effects of sport participation on health. The results also corroborate with previous findings of an increased institutionalization of adolescents sport/physical activities.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Sport participation

perceived health

adolescents

health behaviors

Psychology

Psykologi

Psychology

psykologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)