Abstract
Participation in organized sports is a popular and important part of the lives of children and adolescents and is associated with improved psychological and social health, as well as an increased likelihood of meeting physical activity (PA) recommendations. Changes in modern society, including increased car ownership and use of technology and electronic media, have led to an additional focus on the importance of health‐enhancing PA among children and adolescents. The aim of this article was to study the secular changes in self‐reports of participation in organized sports clubs and leisure‐time vigorous physical activity (LVPA), and whether the relationship between participation in organized sports clubs and LVPA has changed from 1985 to 2014. Questionnaire data were collected in two cross‐sectional samples of Finnish and Norwegian 11‐, 13‐ and 15‐year‐olds in 1985/1986 (n = 7137) and 2014 (n = 9218). Overall, participation in organized sports clubs and level of LVPA appears to have changed in the same direction in the two Nordic countries. The proportion of 11‐year‐olds reporting to be participants in organized sports clubs increased from 1985/1986 to 2014. There was an overall increase in self‐reported LVPA. The association between participation in sports clubs and LVPA was stronger in 2014 than in 1985/1986. The findings indicated subgroup differences, in particular with regard to a steeper increase in LVPA and participation in sports clubs among Finnish girls. We suggest that attention should be given to the role of organized sports to better understand secular changes in PA.
Highlights
Increased car ownership and the use of electronic media and technology, have raised concerns about increases in sedentary behaviour leading to a decrease in health-promoting physical activity among children and adolescents.[1]
Participation in organized sports clubs and level of leisure-time VPA (LVPA) appears to have changed in the same direction in the two Nordic countries
There was an overall increase in self-reported LVPA
Summary
Increased car ownership and the use of electronic media and technology, have raised concerns about increases in sedentary behaviour leading to a decrease in health-promoting physical activity among children and adolescents.[1]. Vigorous physical activity (VPA) is recommended at least three times per week.[2] VPA is a subdomain of physical activity and connected to young people’s recreational hobbies and sports outside school. A recent report from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study 3 found an increase from 2002-2014 in prevalence of self-reported leisure-time VPA (LVPA) among 11-, 13- and 15-year-olds in several countries, including Norway. Others have found, based on objective measures, a decrease in overall PA among Norwegian children and adolescents over a similar time period. 6 Trends in young people’s PA can be linked to macro-environmental and demographic changes, typical of developed countries, such as less space for play in urban contexts, increased concerns about safety, changes in the roles of significant others 7 and innovations within the sports and exercise domain Others have found, based on objective measures, a decrease in overall PA among Norwegian children and adolescents over a similar time period. 6 Trends in young people’s PA can be linked to macro-environmental and demographic changes, typical of developed countries, such as less space for play in urban contexts, increased concerns about safety, changes in the roles of significant others 7 and innovations within the sports and exercise domain
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
