Time use and health and wellbeing outcomes of sport school students in Australia

Abstract

Adolescents who aspire to excel in both sport and academics are provided the opportunity to pursue their ambitions in a focused and integrated manner at sport schools. Sport schools have been established internationally, yet previous literature tells us little about the outcomes of these students. This study investigated: (1) differences in the time commitments and self-reported health and wellbeing of ‘matched’ samples of sport school and non-sport school students, and (2) the impact of weekly sport volume on sport school students’ health and wellbeing outcomes and burnout. Two hundred and thirty-three students (n = 187 student-athletes; n = 46 non-sport school students) from one large metropolitan school in Australia completed an online survey that captured information about time use, sport involvement and health and wellbeing. Sport school students spent less time in sedentary leisure and similar time studying to non-sport school students and had better general health and social and emotional wellbeing than non-sport school students. It was concluded that the flexible and integrated structure of sport schools may provide an appropriately balanced and supportive environment for student-athletes.