Stewart A Vella1, Dylan P Cliff2, Christopher A Magee3, Anthony D Okely2. 1. Interdisciplinary Educational Research Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Australia. Electronic address: stvella@uow.edu.au. 2. Interdisciplinary Educational Research Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Australia. 3. Centre for Health Initiatives, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This paper assessed the associations between sports participation and the development of psychological strengths and difficulties during childhood. DESIGN: Two-year follow up study of a sample of 4042 Australian children who were followed from age 8 years to 10 years. METHODS: Parents reported children's participation in organised sports, and completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Univariate general linear models were used to examine the association between changes in sports participation and psychological strengths and difficulties at 10 years, adjusting for psychological strengths and difficulties at age 8. RESULTS: Children who maintained participation in sport had lower rates of parent-reported psychological difficulties at 10 years compared with children who dropped out of sport. Less internalising problems were also reported for children who participated in organised sports compared to children who dropped out of sports and children who did not participate in sports. These relationships did not differ by BMI, socioeconomic status, or parental education. CONCLUSIONS: Greater psychological difficulties are experienced by children who drop out of sports, and greater social and emotional problems are experienced by children who drop out of sports and who do not participate in organised sports. Due consideration should be given to the quality and implementation of sporting programs to ensure that they provide benefits to mental health. Due consideration should also be given to the potential psychological difficulties being experienced by children who drop out of organised sports as a higher level of psychological difficulties may be experienced prior to or subsequent to dropout.
OBJECTIVES: This paper assessed the associations between sports participation and the development of psychological strengths and difficulties during childhood. DESIGN: Two-year follow up study of a sample of 4042 Australian children who were followed from age 8 years to 10 years. METHODS: Parents reported children's participation in organised sports, and completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Univariate general linear models were used to examine the association between changes in sports participation and psychological strengths and difficulties at 10 years, adjusting for psychological strengths and difficulties at age 8. RESULTS:Children who maintained participation in sport had lower rates of parent-reported psychological difficulties at 10 years compared with children who dropped out of sport. Less internalising problems were also reported for children who participated in organised sports compared to children who dropped out of sports and children who did not participate in sports. These relationships did not differ by BMI, socioeconomic status, or parental education. CONCLUSIONS: Greater psychological difficulties are experienced by children who drop out of sports, and greater social and emotional problems are experienced by children who drop out of sports and who do not participate in organised sports. Due consideration should be given to the quality and implementation of sporting programs to ensure that they provide benefits to mental health. Due consideration should also be given to the potential psychological difficulties being experienced by children who drop out of organised sports as a higher level of psychological difficulties may be experienced prior to or subsequent to dropout.
Authors: Emily Pluhar; Caitlin McCracken; Kelsey L Griffith; Melissa A Christino; Dai Sugimoto; William P Meehan Journal: J Sports Sci Med Date: 2019-08-01 Impact factor: 2.988
Authors: María Rodriguez-Ayllon; Cristina Cadenas-Sánchez; Fernando Estévez-López; Nicolas E Muñoz; Jose Mora-Gonzalez; Jairo H Migueles; Pablo Molina-García; Hanna Henriksson; Alejandra Mena-Molina; Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno; Andrés Catena; Marie Löf; Kirk I Erickson; David R Lubans; Francisco B Ortega; Irene Esteban-Cornejo Journal: Sports Med Date: 2019-09 Impact factor: 11.136
Authors: Timothy A McGuine; Kevin M Biese; Scott J Hetzel; Alison Schwarz; Stephanie Kliethermes; Claudia L Reardon; David R Bell; M Alison Brooks; Andrew M Watson Journal: J Athl Train Date: 2022-01-01 Impact factor: 2.860
Authors: Laura Basterfield; Lauren Gardner; Jessica K Reilly; Mark S Pearce; Kathryn N Parkinson; Ashley J Adamson; John J Reilly; Stewart A Vella Journal: BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med Date: 2016-03-21
Authors: Stewart A Vella; Christian Swann; Marijka Batterham; Katherine M Boydell; Simon Eckermann; Andrea Fogarty; Diarmuid Hurley; Sarah K Liddle; Chris Lonsdale; Andrew Miller; Michael Noetel; Anthony D Okely; Taren Sanders; Joanne Telenta; Frank P Deane Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2018-03-21 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Valerie Carson; Eun-Young Lee; Lyndel Hewitt; Cally Jennings; Stephen Hunter; Nicholas Kuzik; Jodie A Stearns; Stephanie Powley Unrau; Veronica J Poitras; Casey Gray; Kristi B Adamo; Ian Janssen; Anthony D Okely; John C Spence; Brian W Timmons; Margaret Sampson; Mark S Tremblay Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2017-11-20 Impact factor: 3.295