Factors and Effects of High School Sport Participation on Young Adult Physical, Mental, and Social Health

The current physical culture of education and expression for PA is through the medium of sports. However there still remains a gap in the literature for both the self-determined motivation to participate and beneficial consequences of said participation. PURPOSE: to determine predictors of high school participation and effects of high school participation on age 26 behavior, mental health and wellbeing. METHODS: This was accomplished using structural equation models on the longitudinal National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD). Most of the sample was female (52%), White (80%) and played organized sports at ages 15 and 18 (51 %). RESULTS: Significant predictors of playing high school sport were: child enjoys PA, parent enjoys PA, parent feels physical education (PE) is important, and device-assessed vigorous PA minutes/week. Playing sports at ages 15 and 18 was associated with age 26 wellbeing, depression, sport participation, and fitness activity participation. CONCLUSION: Sport participation rates are less than a quarter of high school age youth, while participating in sports in high school is associated with better psychological and physical activity behavior outcomes. As a major contributor to our culture's youth physical and character development, sport participation needs to have satisfying outcomes for youth.