In-school and non-school sport participation during adolescence and mental health outcomes in early adulthood

Abstract

The purpose of this longitudinal study was to (1) examine the differences between mean scores on depressive symptoms, stress, and rating of mental health in early adulthood for individuals who were not involved, sporadically involved, or consistently involved in organised in-school sport and/or non-school sport and (2) to assess the associations between sport participation throughout adolescence and mental health indicators in early adulthood. Participants (N=880; 54% female) reported school and non-school sport participation on 20 survey cycles over 5 years during adolescence. Participation was coded as not involved, sporadically involved (at least one out of five years of sport involvement), and sustained involvement (involvement across all five years). Two years later, participants (Mage=20±0.75) reported on depressive symptoms, stress, and rating of mental health. Based on the ANOVA models, participants who were not involved in school sport reported significantly (p<.05) higher depression and stress and lower rating of mental health compared to sustainers, d=.27 to .33. Participants not involved in non-school sport reported significantly (p<.05) lower rating of mental health compared to those who were sustainers, d=.36. Linear regression analyses revealed that in-school sport participation during adolescence was a significant predictor of depression (R2=0.13), stress (R2=0.10), and rating of mental health (R2=0.10) in early adulthood. School sport participation throughout adolescence seems to have a distinct protective effect against negative mental health outcomes in early adulthood. These results imply that in-school sport opportunities for adolescents are valuable for mental health later in life.