SPORTS PARTICIPATION AND LIFESTYLE BEHAVIORS IN ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Participation in organized sports is an effective means of increasing physical activity levels in adolescents, but sports participation may also impact other health related behaviors. PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to determine if adolescents who participate in organized sports score differently on other lifestyle behaviors than adolescents who do not participate in organized sports. METHODS: 303 adolescents (96 boys and 207 girls, mean age 13.2 ± 1.5) participated in this investigation. They were separated into two groups for analysis based on their response to a question on whether or not they participated in organized school or club sports (yes n = 141, no n = 162). MANOVA was used to compare groups based on their responses to an adolescent lifestyle profile questionnaire separated into the following lifestyle behaviors: Health Responsibility, Physical Activity, Nutrition, Personal Growth, Interpersonal Relations, and Stress Management. RESULTS: Adolescents who participated in organized sports scored significantly higher on lifestyle behaviors related to Physical Activity (p = .000), Nutrition (p = .001), and Interpersonal Relations (p = .004), but were no different from adolescents who did not participate in organized sports on Health Responsibility, Personal Growth, and Stress Management. CONCLUSIONS: Sports participation has a beneficial impact on lifestyle behaviors beyond physical activity for adolescents.