A1 Journal article (refereed)
Sport Participation Trajectories and Loneliness : Evidence From the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (2024)


Owen, K. B., Manera, K. E., Clare, P. J., Lim, M. H., Smith, B. J., Phongsavan, P., Lubans, D. R., Qualter, P., Eime, R., & Ding, D. (2024). Sport Participation Trajectories and Loneliness : Evidence From the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 21(12), 1341-1350. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0319


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editorsOwen, Katherine B.; Manera, Karine E.; Clare, Philip J.; Lim, Michelle H.; Smith, Ben J.; Phongsavan, Philayrath; Lubans, David R.; Qualter, Pamela; Eime, Rochelle; Ding, Ding

Journal or seriesJournal of Physical Activity and Health

ISSN1543-3080

eISSN1543-5474

Publication year2024

Publication date19/09/2024

Volume21

Issue number12

Pages range1341–1350

PublisherHuman Kinetics Publishers

Publication countryUnited States

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0319

Publication open accessNot open

Publication channel open access


Abstract

Background: This study aimed to identify patterns of overall, team, and individual sport participation and examine the prospective associations between these patterns and loneliness in young people.

Methods: We analyzed data from 4241 young people, from waves 3 (8-9 y) to 9 (20-21 y) of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. We conducted latent class analyses to identify overall and team versus individual sport participation trajectories and used adjusted log-Poisson regression models to examine the associations between these trajectories and loneliness at wave 9.

Results: Latent class analyses identified 4 distinct overall sport participation classes which were labeled: nonparticipants (24%), dropouts (42%), initiators (7%), and consistent participants (27%). Compared with nonparticipants, consistent participants had a lower risk of loneliness (risk ratios = 0.69; 95% CIs, 0.59-0.81). Latent class analyses also identified 4 distinct team versus individual sport participation classes: team and individual sport nonparticipants (38%), individual sport participants (14%), moderate team sport participants (14%), and high team sport participants (34%). Compared with the team and individual sport nonparticipants, the high team sports participants had a lower risk of loneliness (risk ratios = 0.70; 95% CIs, 0.53-0.92).

Conclusions: Young people who continued participating in sport in general, and particularly in team sport, had a reduced risk of loneliness. Continued participation in sports should be promoted to improve a range of physical, mental, and social health benefits. Furthermore, team-based sport can provide additional health and well-being benefits, including reduced loneliness due to the group nature of participation.


Keywordsyoung peoplechildren (age groups)individual sportsteam sportsmental well-beinglonelinesslongitudinal research

Free keywords adolescents; individual sport; social health; team sport


Contributing organizations


Ministry reportingYes

VIRTA submission year2024

Preliminary JUFO rating1


Last updated on 2024-30-11 at 20:05