Abstract
BackgroundSexual assault is one of potential factors that may greatly affect an individual’s sport participation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of experiencing physically or non-physically forced sexual activity on trajectories of sport participation from adolescence to young adulthood.MethodsThis study used the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) data. Group-based trajectory modeling was utilized to examine the effect of experiencing sexual assault on trajectories of sport participation from adolescence to young adulthood.ResultsA three-group trajectory model (high-stable group, high-decreasing group, and low-stable group) best fit sport participation among male participants and a two-group trajectory model (high-decreasing group and low-stable group) best fit sport participation among female participants. Both physically and non-physically forced sexual activity did not have significant effect on trajectories of sport participation among male participants. On the other hand, non-physically forced sexual assault significantly affected sport participation trajectory among female participants.ConclusionsSpecial care is required in developing sport promotion program for women victims of non-physically forced sexual activity. The results of this study also suggest that group-based trajectory modeling is a useful technique to examine distinct trajectories of sport participation from adolescence through young adulthood.
Highlights
Sexual assault is one of potential factors that may greatly affect an individual’s sport participation
Male participants were divided into three sport participation trajectory groups
The remaining two groups both started with high probability of participating in sports, one maintaining that pattern until they become young adult, the other being less likely to participate in sports with time
Summary
Sexual assault is one of potential factors that may greatly affect an individual’s sport participation. Important to investigate the factors that may influence sport participation because participation in sporting activities almost always involves physical activity Life change events, such as obtaining a new job, a change in marital status, parental incarceration, experiencing sexual assault, pregnancy, and the death of a family member, can be defined as “those occurrences, including social, psychological and environmental, which require an adjustment or effect a change in an individual’s pattern of living.” [5]. Such events are potential factors that may greatly affect an individual’s physical activity-related behaviors (e.g., sport participation, exercise, and outdoor recreation). Among various life change events, this study focused on experiencing sexual assault
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