Exercise as it relates to Disease/Sports participation and health-related behaviours among US youth

This Wiki Page is a University assignment in which the article Pate et al. (2000) Sports Participation and Health-Related Behaviors Among US Youth is critically appraised.

What is the background to this research?
"Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by rapid physical, psychological, and social growth" and whilst there are many factors that lead to delinquency, participating in team sports has always thought to increase pro-social behaviour in adolescents by providing a safe environment away from negative influences. Pate et al. explores how sports participation in ethnic adolescents affects pro- and anti-social behaviours. It is assumed that exercise alone provides many health benefits both physical and mental, however, adhering to sporting guidelines and a lack of spare time due to trainings are also contributing factors to pro-social behaviour. This nationally (United States) representative study has not been observed previously and provides valuable information on the affects of participating in team sports.

Where is the research from?
Pate et al. analyses data from the 1997 Centres of Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behaviour Survey by using a 3-stage cluster sampling procedure to produce a nationally represented sample of 9th to 12th grade student from public and private schools. Of the four authors, three are from the Department of Exercise Science and Prevention Research Centre and Dr Levin is from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. The University of South Carolina and the School of Public Health Columbia were also involved in the analysis of the study, all of whom are individual from any bias to the findings.

What kind of research was this?
Pate el al. is a quantitative cross-sectional study that utilises one-time self-reported survey data. Students were required to recall information about their participation in activities ranging from the past three to 12 months (1997). The concluding findings aline with those of other studies including Hastad et al. and Ponsoda et al. which indicate a negative association between sports participation and delinquency.

What did the research involve?
The 88-item Youth Risk Behaviour Survey was administered in school classrooms by trained administrators to over 16000 students. Of these, 87.4% were included in the analysis of those approximately 39% were American students, 31% were African-American students and 30% were Hispanic students. Those who described themselves as Asian or Pacific Islander, Native American or Alaskan Native, or other were excluded due to small numbers. All analyses were performed using an SAS version of SUDAAN where males and females were analysed separately.

The survey included questions about participation in sports teams, vigorous physical activity, dietary habits, substance abuse, sexual activity, violence and weight loss. Sports participation was defined as "playing on one or more sports teams run by the school or by organisations outside of the school during the past 12 months".

The methodology of this research has low reliability and validity as data has been interpreted from self-reported surveys which asks students to recall information about their activities from as early as 12 months prior. There are also limitations to the assumptions that can be deduced from this research as a proportion of student's data - those stated above and surveys that had missing information including: age, sex, ethnicity, participation in school sports, participation in sports teams run by organisations outside of school, and participation in vigorous activity - were not included.

What were the basic results?
In Pate el at. it was observed that 62.5% of high-school students reported participating in one or more school and/or non-school sports teams, with male students (69.9%) being more likely to participate in sports than female students (53.4%). Participation between the three main ethnicities studied (American, African-American and Hispanic students) was approximately 57.7% each.

As per the table below, female and male sports participants were reported more likely to consume fruit and vegetables than those who did not participate in sports, and engaged in more vigorous physical activity (at least 20 minutes per day) in the last seven days than their counterparts.

It was also less likely for both male and female sports participants to report cigarette smoking and use of marijuana or cocaine. For females participating in sport; having sexual intercourse during their lifetime, having sexual intercourse during the past three months and contemplating or attempting suicide was less likely than females who did not partake in sport. Males participating in sport were also less likely to report taking illegal drugs, sniffing glue, contemplating suicide, carrying a weapon or trying to lose weight than males who did not participate in sport.

In regards to ethnicities; "African-American sports participants were more likely than non-participants to report illegal drug use", and "Hispanic female sports participants were more likely than nonparticipants to carry a weapon and/or use steroids". American male sports participants were also more likely than nonparticipants to report having sexual intercourse during their lifetime, having sexual intercourse with multiple partners, and/or contemplating suicide.

What conclusions can we take from this research?
Overall, Pate et al. interpreted that "sports participation is highly prevalent among US high school students, and is associated with numerous positive health behaviours and few negative health behaviours". Clark et al. reviewed whether participation in sport would contribute to increased prosocial behaviours and decreased drug and alcohol consumption and observed that sports participation in adolescents is related to self-esteem, self-regulation, life skills and pro-social behaviour, with very little studies stating any negative impacts of participation in sport.

While adolescent participation in sport encourages positive health-related behaviours, there are many factors that contribute to anti-social behaviour including smoking during pregnancy, divorce, teenage parenthood and social disadvantage that participation in sport cannot reduce.

Practical advice
It is recommend that exercise and participation in sport occurs across the whole of one's life from childhood to adulthood as there are many known benefits such as decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, decreased association with anti-social behaviours , and a reduction in depressive and anxious symptoms. Participating in team sports also provides a social aspect to people's lives which is yet another mental health benefit.

If you wish to begin exercising or participating in sport, it is advised that you visit your General Practitioner to complete a Pre-Exercise Screening before commencing any activity.

Further information/resources
Exercising for our mental health during to Covid-19

How to look after yourself

Peer pressure and fitting in

The importance of physical activity

Kids help line