Association Between Sports Participation and Psychosocial Wellbeing of Australian Children: An 8-year Longitudinal Study

Asaduzzaman Khan; Aliza Werner-Seidler; Tarissa Hidajat; Jie Feng; Wendy Yajun Huang; Simon Rosenbaum

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.07.011

Association Between Sports Participation and Psychosocial Wellbeing of Australian Children: An 8-year Longitudinal Study

J Adolesc Health. 2023 Dec;73(6):1117-1124. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.07.011. Epub 2023 Sep 1.

Authors

Asaduzzaman Khan¹, Aliza Werner-Seidler², Tarissa Hidajat³, Jie Feng⁴, Wendy Yajun Huang⁵, Simon Rosenbaum⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Electronic address: a.khan2@uq.edu.au.
² Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
³ School of Education, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
⁴ Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
⁵ Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China; Dr Stephen Hui Research Centre for Physical Recreation and Wellness, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
⁶ School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

PMID: 37656103
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.07.011

Abstract

Purpose: Sports participation is associated with children's health and wellbeing; however, existing evidence is predominantly based on cross-sectional studies. This study examined the longitudinal association of sports participation with psychosocial wellbeing of Australian children.

Methods: Data were from five waves of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children aged 6-7 years in 2010 (n = 4,242) and followed up until 2018. Outcomes were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Sports participation was measured using two items assessing regular participation in team and individual sports.

Results: Multilevel mixed effects modeling showed that any sports participation was beneficially associated with psychosocial wellbeing. Boys who participated in team sports had 1.78 point lower difficulties score (β = -1.78; 95% confidence interval: --2.01,-1.55), while this was 0.58 points lower for individual sports (β =-0.58; -0.81,-0.34). In girls, difficulties score was 1.22 point lower for team sports (β = -1.22; -1.44,-1.00) and 0.49 point lower for individual sports (β = -0.49; -0.71,-0.26). Sports participation was positively associated with better quality of life with team sports (β = 4.72; 4.15,5.28 for boys; β = 3.44; 2.87,4.00 for girls) offering more benefits than individual sports (β = 1.00; 0.83,1.98 for boys; β = 1.40; 0.83,1.98 for girls). Participation in both team and individual sports had the strongest benefits. Prolonged engagement in sports was associated with better psychosocial wellbeing in a dose-dependent manner.

Discussion: Regular participation in any sports can benefit children's wellbeing with team sports being more beneficial than individual sports. Encouraging children to regularly participate and remain engaged in sports can help to optimize their psychosocial wellbeing.

Keywords: Adolescents; Individual sports; Mental wellbeing; Organized sports; Team sports.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Australia
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Quality of Life*
Surveys and Questionnaires