Adolescent Sports Research Articles

Assessment of Knowledge and Health Practices Adopted by Adolescent Sports Girls During Menstruation

Assessment of Knowledge and Health Practices Adopted by Adolescent Sports Girls During Menstruation

Pre-analysis protocol for an observational study on the effects of adolescent sports participation on health in early adulthood

Abstract: We will study the impact of adolescent sports participation on early-adulthood health using longitudinal data from the National Study of Youth and Religion. We focus on two primary outcomes measured at ages 23–28 — self-rated health and total score on the PHQ9 Patient Depression Questionnaire — and control for several potential confounders related to demographics and family socioeconomic status. Comparing outcomes between sports participants and matched non-sports participants with similar confounders is straightforward. Unfortunately, an analysis based on such a broad exposure cannot probe the possibility that participation in certain types of sports (e.g., collision sports like football or soccer) may have larger effects on health than others. In this study, we introduce a hierarchy of exposure definitions, ranging from broad (participation in any after-school organized activity) to narrow (e.g., participation in limited-contact sports). We will perform separate matched observational studies, one for each definition, to estimate the health effects of several levels of sports participation. In order to conduct these studies while maintaining a fixed family-wise error rate, we deployed an ordered testing approach that exploits the logical relationships between exposure definitions. Our study will also consider several secondary outcomes including body mass index, life satisfaction, and problematic drinking behavior.

Youth Preseason Performance on the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 Across Multiple Sports.

To examine preseason Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 (SCAT5) performance of adolescent sport participants by environment (in-person/virtual), sex, age, concussion history, collision/noncollision sport participation, and self-reported medical diagnoses. Cross-sectional. Canadian community and high-school sport settings. Three thousand eight hundred five adolescent (2493 male, 1275 female, and 37 did not disclose; 11- to 19-year-old) sport participants. Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 administration method (in-person/virtual), sex (male/female/unreported), age (years), concussion history (0/1/2/3+), collision/noncollision sport participant, and self-reported medical diagnoses [attention deficit disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, headache/migraine, learning disability, and psychiatric disorder (ie, anxiety/depression/other)]. Preseason SCAT5 outcomes including total number of symptoms (TNS; /22), symptom severity score (SSS; /132), Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC; /50), and modified Balance Error Scoring System (mBESS; /30). Multiple multilevel linear or Poisson regression complete case analyses adjusting for clustering and robust standard errors, with β-coefficients (95% CI) back-transformed to indicate an increase/decrease in SCAT5 subdomains when relevant for clinical interpretation. Virtual (V) performance was associated with fewer symptoms reported [TNS Difference V-IP = -1.53 (95% CI, -2.22 to -0.85)], lower SSS [-2.49 (95% CI, -4.41 to -0.58)], and fewer mBESS errors (IP) [-0.52 (95% CI, -0.77 to -0.27)] compared with in-person. For every one-year increase in age, more symptoms [TNS = 0.22 (95% CI, 0.01-0.44)], higher SSS [0.52 (95% CI, 0.01-1.06)], higher SAC [0.27 (95% CI, 0.15-0.38), and poorer balance [mBESS = -0.19 (-0.28 to -0.09)] were observed. Differences between males and females were also seen across all SCAT5 outcomes. Individuals reporting any medical diagnosis or 3+ concussion history also reported more symptoms (TNS) and higher SSS than those who did not. Administration environment, sex, age, concussion history, and medical diagnoses were associated with SCAT5 subdomains and are important considerations when interpreting the SCAT5 results.

Oro-dental trauma burden and mouthguard usage among contact sports players: A call for sports dentistry initiatives in Sri Lanka.

Contact sports-related oro-dental trauma contributes to a significant proportion of sports injuries among school children. Oro-dental trauma imposes a detrimental impact on the oral health-related quality of life. However, the burden of oro-dental trauma among contact sports players and their practices of mouthguards remains a research gap in Sri Lanka. The current study bridges that while providing evidence for contextual changes such as initiating sports dentistry. The study was conducted among 1340 adolescent contact sports players in Colombo district, Sri Lanka; 63.1% males and 36.9% females (age 13-18), who were enrolled in football, rugby, hockey, boxing, basketball, and martial arts in the school setting. A checklist was administered to obtain demographic information, sports practices, and the use of mouthguards. An oral examination was conducted for those who experienced oro-dental trauma during the last 12 months. Self-reported oro-dental trauma pooled prevalence of the contact sports players was 35.9% (95% CI = 33.3-38.5), with males' preponderance. Dental trauma was present in 23.8% (n = 319), while 15.8% were uncomplicated and 8% were complicated. Soft tissue injuries were present in 12.1% (n = 162). Oro dental trauma (ODT) was highly prevalent among boxing, rugby, and hockey players. Only 20.8% (n = 279) of players used mouthguards. However, 91.0% (n = 254) of them were using ready-made mouthguards. Mouthguard use and the type of mouthguard showed statistically significant associations across the type of oro-dental trauma among contact sports players. Contact sports-related oro-dental trauma prevalence is as high as 35.9% among Colombo district school children in Sri Lanka. However, their level of mouthguard usage is shallow at 20.8%. Further research is necessary to investigate the reasons behind this, and national guidelines should be developed to prevent and manage sports-related accidental injuries.

What keeps them off the playing field: a textual analysis of Chinese female pre-service kindergarten teachers’ adolescent sports life history

ABSTRACT While studies have explored the physical literacy of Chinese kindergarten teachers and its impact on young children’s health, to date, none has provided a comprehensive analysis of Chinese kindergarten teachers’ self-perceptions in relation to sport. This study explored the environmental stressors associated with participating in sport during the teenage years of 148 Chinese female pre-service kindergarten teachers majoring in early childhood education at a Chinese university through the analysis of their individual sports life history texts. The researchers found that there were multiple simultaneous pressures regarding girls’ sport participation in China. First, there is the pain of student sports participation caused by the pull of multiple forces, and the inconsistency between government, school, family, and student demands for sports, which makes both sports and students a passive presence. Second, there is gender discrimination against women in the sports arena, which adds another burden for girls. Third, physical education teachers seem to have been unable to solve the physical and mental discomforts caused by perceptions of girls’ limited ability, accidental injuries, anxiety and shyness in the sports process. The study revealed the profound impact of body culture and gender culture in Confucianism on adolescent girls’ sports during puberty. The findings contribute to understanding and improving the pre-service physical education practices of female kindergarten teachers and female physical education practices during adolescence, as well as, in the long run, improving the quality of kindergarten children’s physical activity in a context where females are the dominant occupational group.

The effectiveness of child and adolescent sports engagement in China: an analysis of China’s results for the 2016–2022 Global Matrix report cards on physical activity

China strives to become a leading sports nation. Through implemented policies and programs, Chinese children and adolescents have shown notable advancements and improvements in their engagement in physical activity in recent years, indicating an overall positive trend. However, some indicators exhibit a concerning “inversion phenomenon”. This study utilizes data from three surveys conducted between 2016 and 2022 by the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance. By comparing current ratings with those from 2016 and 2018, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, significant obstacles in promoting physical activity and health among Chinese children and adolescents are revealed, with persistently low scores. The 2022 Global Matrix 4.0 report ranks Chinese children and adolescents 53rd out of 57 surveyed countries, with an overall average physical activity score of D. Similarly, the average score for sources of influence ranks at 53rd. Consequently, the establishment of an integrated school, family, and social sports promotion mechanism, led by the government, becomes an imperative prerequisite for enhancing the levels of physical activity and overall health among children and adolescents.

Evolution of perceptions of motivational climates in youth soccer development and a comparison of opinions between families and players

Motivation is one of the general variables with the greatest influence on behaviour, making it essential to understand the perspectives of various stakeholders as well as the theories that examine it. Furthermore, it stands as one of the primary causes of dropout in adolescent sports participation. The primary objective of this research is to ascertain the assessment of the motivational climate from both players and families in youth football development categories. Specific objectives include validating whether the adaptation of the SMS and AGSYS questionnaires yields congruent results, comparing the perspectives of families and players regarding the motivational climate, and finally, examining the opinions and evolution of the motivational climate among players across different age categories. The sample consisted of 143 individuals from the top-tier teams in youth development stages at the Cuarte Sports Club (Zaragoza, Spain). Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed using the SPSS 22.0 statistical software. The findings indicate that the adaptation of both questionnaires does not measure the same constructs, significant differences exist in the opinions of families and players, and lastly, cadet-level players demonstrate distinct opinions in comparison to other age categories.

Playing for more than winning: Exploring sports participation, physical activity, and belongingness and their relationship with patterns of adolescent substance use and mental health

BackgroundPromoting adolescent sports participation and physical activity may be effective low-barrier prevention strategies for co-occurring adolescent substance use (SU) and mental health symptoms (MH). The objectives of this study were to: 1) explore associations between profiles of SU/MH and sports participation; and 2) determine whether physical activity and belongingness account for these associations. MethodsData came from a representative sample of 11,994 grade 9–12 Ontarian students (ages ~14–18) previously grouped into five SU/MH profiles based on patterns of use and symptoms. A series of multinomial logistic regressions, adjusted for socio-demographics and school clustering, were used to predict the risks of students belonging to SU/MH profiles based on: 1) school sports participation (>=weekly), 2) sports and physical activity (>=60minutes; 0–7 days), and 3) sports, physical activity, and school belongingness. ResultsGreater school sports participation, physical activity, and belongingness were each associated with reduced risks of belonging to most profiles with elevations in SU and/or MH symptoms relative to the low SU/MH profile (Relative Risk Ratios: sports=0.62–0.87, physical activity=0.78–0.98, belonging=0.75–0.83). Frequency of physical activity accounted for ~32–60% of the associations between sports and SU/MH profiles, while school belongingness accounted for the remaining associations. Physical activity and belongingness remained independently associated with SU/MH profiles. ConclusionsFindings suggest possible indirect associations between school sports participation and SU/MH profiles through physical activity and school belongingness, which may be promising prevention targets that have independent associations over and above sports. School sports participation may be one of a number of ways to achieve these goals.

Preventing Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries in High School Sports Participants: An Executive Summary of the Inaugural Meeting of the National ACL Injury Coalition.

To address the increasing rates of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury among young sports participants, the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and the Aspen Institute convened a meeting of a new national coalition to make ACL injury prevention a fundamental aspect of youth sports. This executive summary outlines the National ACL Injury Coalition's goals as defined at its inaugural meeting held at HSS on March 27, 2023. Using a theory of change called "collective impact" designed to support collaboration and drive systems-level change, the coalition focused on 4 strategic priorities intended to reduce ACL injury rates in high school sports participants: widespread implementation of interventions (ensuring that student athletes are adequately trained), high-quality education (raising awareness among many stakeholders), equitable access (ensuring that all high school sports participants, regardless of the resources available at their schools, have access to injury prevention resources), and aligning stakeholders (uniting disparate entities-schools, sports clubs, parents, coaches, and others in these efforts). The group outlined short-range, medium-range, and long-range goals over a 3-year period, including the launch of an ACL injury prevention toolkit for use by adolescent sports participants and teams, athletic trainers, coaches, and other key stakeholders.

The impact of competitive youth athlete injury on parents: a narrative review

Athletic injuries are common in youth sports, and much research has focused on the injury experience of athletes. However, less attention has been given to the impact of adolescent injury on relevant others within athletes’ recovery orbit, particularly parents. This narrative review examines the impact of adolescent injury on parents using the Multilevel Model of Sport Injury (MMSI). Results revealed that parents’ experience of their adolescent’s injury is influenced by intra- and interpersonal factors (e.g., thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and interactions with coaches, and sport medicine providers), as well as institutional, cultural, and policylevel factors (e.g., lack of organizational support, internalization of sport norms about playing with pain, and sport injury policies and guidelines). The review provides a more nuanced understanding of the factors and interactions that parents have following adolescent sport injury. Further research using the MMSI can extend current conceptualization and theorizing regarding parents’ experiences following adolescent injury.

Syncopes in adolescents in sport

The study analyzes current data on syncope in children and adolescents. The study presents the classification of syncope and briefly describes the clinical manifestations of neurally mediated syncope and the main methods of its diagnosis and treatment. Syncopes associated with organic cardiac pathologies and primary cardiac arrhythmias are caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, coronary artery anomalies, primary long QT syndrome, WolffParkinsonWhite syndrome, and bradyarrhythmias. The diagnostic features of syncope in children and young athletes and modern approaches to treatment and prevention are discussed.
 Although most syncopes in athletes are not associated with physical activity and have a neurotransmitter genesis, a thorough medical examination is needed. Factors that induce the development of syncopes in athletes must be identified. A prerequisite for admission to sports is the exclusion of the cardiac and arrhythmogenic reasons of syncopes. The decision to expand the sports regime should be made only after a thorough collection of medical history, including family history, and a comprehensive examination. In addition, the degree of risk in view of injuries, provocation, or fatal events following the loss of consciousness during sports must be estimated. This is extremely relevant for sports such as swimming, complex coordination sports (gymnastics and acrobatics), auto and motor sports, and alpine skiing.
 Although syncopes are common problems in pediatric practice, with only a few cases with cardiac causes based on structural or primary electrical myocardial diseases, they pose the greatest danger in sports medicine. Thus, such conditions must be excluded in young athletes because sports load can aggravate cardiac pathologies, which cause syncopes, due to untimely diagnosis before the start of a sports career.

“Time may change me, but you can’t trace time”: the (In)stability of psycho-social doping profiles among adolescent athletes

ABSTRACT The Adolescent Sport Doping Inventory (ASDI; [Nicholls, A. R., Levy, A. R., Meir, R., Sanctuary, C., Jones, L., Baghurst, T., Thompson, M. A., & Perry, J. L. (2019). The development and validation of the adolescent sport drug inventory (ASDI) among athletes from four continents. Psychological Assessment, 31(11), 1279–1293. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0000750] was one of the first questionnaires designed specifically to measure psycho-social doping constructs among adolescent athletes. Little is known about the reliability of this scale, and nor the stability of the psychosocial variables that the ASDI assesses. The aim of this paper was to assess the reliability of the ASDI, along with the extent to which key psychosocial constructs are stable, and whether there was variance across four clusters. Three independent samples of athletes were recruited. Athletes completed the ASDI one week apart (Sample 1, 92 athletes), 8 weeks apart (Sample 2, 134 athletes), and 16 weeks apart (Sample 3, 86 athletes). Findings revealed that the ASDI is a robust and reliable measure. While there was little within-subject variance in the data assessed one week apart (Sample 1) and 8 weeks apart (Sample 2), correlation coefficients in Sample 3 were markedly lower than Samples 1 or 2. The data also revealed that there was movement between cluster profiles for the eight- and 16-week gap, but not the one-week gap. In the short-term, psychosocial variables such as attitudes doping and susceptibility towards doping are relatively stable among adolescent athletes, although there is some movement between doping clusters. This could infer that ongoing anti-doping education is required to prevent undesirable changes in these important factors on a regular basis within adolescence.

Psychometric properties of the Sport Anxiety Scale-2 for Chinese adolescent athletes taking the National Sports College Entrance Examination.

This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Sport Anxiety Scale-2 (SAS-2) in Chinese adolescent sports exam candidates. One day before the National Sports College Entrance Examination, 965 Chinese athletes rated the Chinese-language SAS-2. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to test the three-factor structure. Factorial invariance was tested by comparing the configural invariance model to three more constrained models. Construct validity and reliability were determined. Fit indices meet the critical values: CFI = 0.953, TLI = 0.943, RMSEA = 0.048 [90% CI, 0.041-0.054], and SRMR = 0.042. All path factor loadings exceed 0.5. The changes in CFI and RMSEA across the configural, metric, scalar, and uniqueness invariance are within the critical values, demonstrating strict measurement invariance across gender, years of training, and type of sports. The average variance extracted of the worry sub-scale is above the cutoff criteria, and McDonald's omega coefficients are over 0.70. Significant correlations exist between the SAS-2, SCAT, and CSAI-2. Factor correlations are all below 0.8. The measurement also distinguishes the known gender effect, with females showing a probability of 58.6% higher anxiety levels. The intraclass correlation coefficient ranges from 0.706 to 0.801. This study validated the Chinese-language SAS-2 in measuring competitive anxiety among Chinese adolescent athletes taking the National Sports College Entrance Examination. The development of the scale's applicability in China is discussed.

Playing basketball and volleyball during adolescence is associated with higher bone mineral density in old age: the Bunkyo Health Study.

Introduction: Exercise is beneficial for increasing areal bone mineral density (aBMD) in adolescence and maintaining it in old age. Moreover, high-impact sports are more effective than low-impact sports in increasing aBMD. This study aimed to determine the types of adolescent sports played in school-based sports clubs associated with aBMD in old age. Methods: In total, 1,596 older adults (681 men and 915 women, age: 65-84years) living in an urban area of Japan were evaluated for the femoral neck and lumbar spine aBMD using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The association between adolescent sports played in sports clubs and aBMD in old age was analyzed using multiple regression analysis, with femoral neck and lumbar spine aBMD as dependent variables, and sports type and participant characteristics such as age, body weight, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level, as independent variables. Results: For the femoral neck, basketball was associated with aBMD in older men (β = 0.079, p < 0.05) and women (β = 0.08, p < 0.01), whereas current body weight and 25(OH)D level were associated with aBMD in both sexes. For the lumbar spine, volleyball (β = 0.08, p < 0.01) and swimming (β = 0.06, p < 0.05) was significantly associated with lumbar spine aBMD, whereas current body weight, 25(OH)D, and diabetes mellitus were associated with aBMD in older women. Conclusion: Both men and women who played basketball in adolescence had higher femoral neck aBMD in old age. Moreover, women who played volleyball in adolescence had higher lumbar spine aBMD in old age.

Personality Traits vs. Sports Classes of Polish Representatives in Junior Sports Acrobatics.

The aim of this paper was to determine the influence of adolescence, training discipline, and training regime on the personality formation of adolescent sports acrobats. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to study the relationship between the personality traits and the sports classes of Polish junior sports acrobatics representatives. The respondents (N = 90) were juniors aged 18-19 and were divided into three samples: (1) n = 30 Polish representatives in sports acrobatics with a first or master sports class; (2) n = 30 kata athletes from Kyokushin karate and Shotokan karate as a reference sample from another sports discipline with gymnastic movement expression; (3) n = 30 high school students as a reference sample of non-athletic persons. The Big Five model was used, and the NEO-FFI personality questionnaire was used as a research tool. For the analyses of basic descriptive statistics, the Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney test were performed to determine statistical significance (α = 0.05). It was noted that all athletes (the first and second samples) had personality traits at the same levels: low neuroticism, high extraversion, moderate openness to experience and agreeableness, and high conscientiousness in relation to non-athletes. In contrast, there were differences among the subjects in personality traits, except for agreeableness. Among the sports acrobats, master-class athletes showed lower neuroticism, greater openness to experience, lower agreeableness, and greater conscientiousness in relation to first-class athletes. It was found that there were differences between the personality traits and sports classes of junior sports acrobatics representatives in Poland in the four Big Five dimensions. But in general, sports acrobats and karate athletes had personality traits at similar levels, and at the same time, different from non-training people.

‘My mum just wants me out of the house’: the leisure lifestyles of white-working class adolescents

ABSTRACT The sports participation rates of British adults remain strongly influenced by their social class background, with those from the bottom of the social class hierarchy significantly less likely to take part in sport and/or active leisure. These trends are closely linked to the types of active leisure participation that adults engage in as young people, with those from working-class backgrounds more likely to engage in a narrower range of class-related activities in their youth, a trend that has been shown to constrain the likelihood of them participating into adulthood. One of the influences on this outcome is the way in which parental influence comes to impact upon the ways that young people from working-class families approach and engage in activities during their leisure time. In order to explore this influence, this paper examines the leisure lifestyles of white, working-class adolescent males via the use of group interviews in an attempt to explain the current and future participation of working-class male adolescents in sport and active leisure. The study utilised responses from 47 participants in Years 10 and 11 across eight focus group interviews as part of a semi-ethnographical multi-method design in a predominantly white, working-class mainstream secondary school. The results found that the participants spent significant amounts of their leisure time engaged in class-related, recreational activities within the local area alongside their peers. Linked to this was the apparent lack of formal guidance and support from their parents in relation the participants’ regular involvement in organised sporting activities. The behaviours and attitudes of these participants meant that the majority of the participants were neither inclined nor ‘set up’ to participate in the types and range of activities that may well have kept them active into and through adulthood.

Application Effect of Chinese Medicine Rehabilitation in the Treatment of Adolescent Ankle Sports Injuries

Objective: To analyze the clinical effect of traditional Chinese medicine rehabilitation in treating adolescentankle sports injuries. Methods: From December 2020 to December 2022, adolescent patients with ankle joint sports injuries admitted to our hospital were selected as observation objects, and 67 patients were divided into a control group (n = 33, routine rehabilitation treatment) and an experimental group (n = 34, traditional Chinese medicine rehabilitation treatment) according to the computer grouping method. Compare the treatment results. Results: (i) The treatment received in the experimental group had an efficacy of 94.11%, which was higher than that of the control group (75.75%), and statistical significance was established (P &lt; 0.05). (ii) Before treatment, there was no difference in ankle joint pain, ankle joint activity, and ankle joint function scores between the control group and the experimental group (P &gt; 0.05); after treatment, the ankle joint pain, ankle joint activity, and ankle joint function scores in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P &lt; 0.05). (iii) The experimental group had higher scores on physiological function, physiological function, physical pain, general health status, energy, social function, emotional function, and mental health compared to the control group (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Traditional Chinese medicine rehabilitation is effective in treating ankle injuries caused by sports in adolescents and improve their quality of life. Therefore, it should be popularized.

O.4.5-2 Participation in organized and unorganized sports in adolescence: associations with physical activity levels in adulthood

Abstract Purpose Participation in organized youth sports (OYS) has been linked to higher levels of physical activity (PA) in adulthood. However, the longitudinal associations of OYS and PA compared to unorganized sports and non-participation have not been extensively studied. This study aims to explore the associations of both organized and unorganized sports in adolescence with PA levels in midlife. Methods Participants in this study were drawn from the on-going, population-based prospective Young Finns Study. Data from follow-ups conducted in the years 1980, 1983, 1986, and 1989 were utilized to divide the participants into groups of active OYS, active unorganized sports, and non-participants, separately at the ages of 9 (n = 548), 12 (n = 727), 15 (n = 752), and 18 (n = 767). The groups were formed according to self-reported frequency and intensity of leisure time PA and participation in sports club activities in adolescence. Accelerometer-derived PA (mean daily minutes of sedentary time [ST], light-intensity PA [LPA], and moderate-to-vigorous PA [MVPA]) in midlife was assessed in 2018-2020. Differences in adult PA between the youth PA groups were analyzed using analysis of covariance, separately in males and females. Results Compared to non-participants, boys who actively participated in OYS at age 9 had lower ST (mean difference [SE]: -38 [15], p = 0.045) and higher LPA (29 [12], p = 0.050) in midlife. No significant group differences were observed for girls at age 9 or for either sex at age 12 or 15, or for boys at age 18. In girls at age 18, significant group differences were found in MVPA in midlife in favor of both organized and unorganized sports compared to non-participants (15 [3], p &amp;lt; 0.001; 8 [3], p = 0.014, respectively). Conclusions Active participation in organized sports in boys at age 9 and active participation in both organized and unorganized sports in girls at age 18 associated with higher levels of physical activity in midlife. These findings suggest that promoting both types of sports participation in adolescence may contribute to the development of a physically active lifestyle across the life course. Support/Funding Source The work was supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

O.6.3-4 Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity in the Island of Ireland: a cross-sectional study comparing differences in participation between 2018 and 2022

Abstract Purpose Given the many policies and interventions aimed at increasing physical activity (PA), it is important to understand how levels of PA, sport participation and active travel change over time. The purpose of this study is to assess the participation levels of children and adolescents in sport, PA and active travel in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (RoI) and compare differences in participation between 2018 and 2022. Methods A cross-sectional survey was completed by a sample of schoolchildren in 2018 and in 2022 through the Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity (CSPPA) study. A representative sample of primary (n = 1549 in 2018, n = 1758 in 2022) and post-primary (n = 5102 in 2018, n = 7123 in 2022) pupils were surveyed in school using standardised self-report PA and sport participation measures. Descriptive statistics, chi-square analyses, linear regression and logistic regression were run for outcome variables. Results Reported participation in daily PA increased at both school levels in NI and RoI between 2018 and 2022 with an increased proportion of pupils meeting the recommended levels of PA (NI: 13% in 2018 and 17% in 2022, RoI: 13% in 2018 and 15% in 2022). The proportion of children taking part in sport at least once a week increased over the last four years at both school levels in NI and RoI. Active travel to or from primary school increased from 36% in 2018 to 40% in 2022 in NI and from 42% in 2018 to 43% in 2022 in RoI. There was no change in the level of self-reported active travel for post-primary pupils in NI. However, reported engagement in active travel decreased from 40% to 35% in RoI. Conclusions The findings from this study suggest small increases in participation in self-reported daily PA, school sport, and community sport between 2018 and 2022. Despite this, participation rates and engagement with active travel remain low. These findings are important for policymakers seeking to address inactivity in children and adolescents in Ireland. Support/Funding Source This study is funded by Sport Ireland, Healthy Ireland and Sport NI, with support from the Departments of Health and Education in ROI.

Associations Between Adolescent Sport and Exercise Participation and Device-Assessed Physical Activity in Adulthood: Evidence From the 1970 British Cohort Study.

Adolescence is a critical period filled with life changes. Early implementation of effective health promotion strategies could help alleviate the morbidity and mortality associated with inactivity. This study investigated whether adolescent participation in exercise and sport is associated with device-assessed physical activity (PA) levels in midlife. A total of 2984 participants (41.2% male) from the 1970 British Cohort Study were included. Participants were surveyed at age 16years on 5 indicators of exercise and sport participation. Total daily PA and moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) at age 46years were measured using a thigh-worn accelerometer, worn for 7days. Associations between each adolescent exercise or sport indicator and adulthood total daily PA and MVPA were examined using linear regressions, adjusting for sex, wear time, body mass index, smoking, disability, malaise, alcohol consumption, social class, education, and self-rated health. In fully adjusted models, adolescents who reported exercising "much more" than others (8.6min/d; 95% confidence interval, -0.1 to 17.1), who played sports at the park/playground more than once a week (8.5 [3.0-14.0]min/d), and who exercised on the most recent Saturday (3.8 [0.7-6.9]min/d) had higher adult total PA levels than those who reported the lowest activity levels. There was no evidence of an association between greater sport and exercise participation at age 16 y and MVPA at age 46 y. There was no association between sports at school and either measure of adult PA. Active adolescents, particularly those who engaged in out-of-school exercise, had higher total daily PA levels, but not MVPA levels, in midlife. This highlights the potential of early PA interventions to improve PA levels in adulthood.