Citation

Vella SA, Cliff DP, Magee CA, Okely AD. J. Pediatr. 2014; 164(6): 1469-1474.

Affiliation

Interdisciplinary Educational Research Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jpeds.2014.01.071

PMID

24657117

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the longitudinal association between sports participation and parent-reported health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study that used data drawn from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children in waves 3 (2008) and 4 (2010). Participants were a nationally representative sample of 4042 Australian children ages 8.25 (SD = 0.44) years at baseline and followed-up 24 months later.

RESULTS: After we adjusted for multiple covariates, children who continued to participate in sports between the ages of 8 and 10 years had greater parent-reported HRQOL at age 10 (Eta(2) =.02) compared with children who did not participate in sports (P ≤.001), children who commenced participation after 8 years of age (P =.004), and children who dropped out of sports before reaching 10 years of age (P =.04). Children who participated in both team and individual sports (P =.02) or team sports alone (P =.04) had greater HRQOL compared with children who participated in individual sports alone (Eta(2) =.01). The benefits of sports participation were strongest for girls (P <.05; Eta(2) =.003).

CONCLUSIONS: Children's participation in developmentally appropriate team sports helps to protect HRQOL and should be encouraged at an early age and maintained for as long as possible.

Language: en