Educational and family-related determinants of organized sports participation patterns from adolescence to emerging adulthood: A four-year follow-up study

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to identify organized sports participation patterns and their prevalence from adolescence to emerging adulthood, and the educational and family-related determinants of the patterns. Adolescents in the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club (FHPSC) study answered a health behaviour questionnaire and reported on sports club participation at ages 15 and 19 (N = 609). In emerging adulthood, dropouts (total 41.05%; females 43.72%; males 36.56%), maintainers (30.87; 26.44; 38.33), nonparticipants (27.59; 29.32; 24.67), and joiners (0.49; 0.52; 0.44) (p = .024) were identified. A mixed multinomial logistic regression analysis showed, that male gender, as compared to female gender, increased the odds of being a maintainer rather than a nonparticipant or dropout. Among females, high achievement at school and aspiration towards upper secondary school at age 15 increased the odds of being a maintainer at age 19 rather than a nonparticipant. High achievement at school and experiencing a (strong) decrease in parental support for physical activity/sport increased the odds of being a dropout rather than a nonparticipant. Having no experience of a strong decrease in parental support increased the odds of being a maintainer rather than a dropout. Among males, aspiration towards upper secondary school increased the odds of being a maintainer or dropout rather than a nonparticipant. The most common reason for dropping out was study, which was also the most prevalent life status at age 19. The findings highlight a need for more flexible possibilities to combine organized sports participation and school studies, and the importance of parental support for physical activity/sport.

KEYWORDS:

• Cohort studies
• health promotion
• sports
• academic success
• parental support

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank all the sports clubs, schools, and the adolescents who participated in the FHPSC study, and all those who assisted with the data collection. This work was supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture (major, grant numbers: 6/091/2011, 28/626/2016), the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (minor, grant number: 152/THL/TE/2012) encompassing all parts of the study. The funders had no role in the design, data collection, statistical analysis, or preparation of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data for this study are not publicly available as they contain identification information. However, some parts of the data may be requested from the Principle Investigator (SK), upon reasonable request.

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/14635240.2022.2116943.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the the Ministry of Education and Culture [major, grant numbers: 6/091/2011, 28/626/2016]; the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health [minor, grant number: 152/THL/TE/2012].