Organized and unorganized sports in youth promote physical activity in adulthood
This study supports previous research linking organized youth sports with physical activity in adulthood.
“Organized sports can foster a sense of community as well as joy and engagement in physical activity, which can support the continuation of physical activity into adulthood,” says Associate Professor Kasper Salin.
Unorganized sports outside sports club activities can also promote lifelong physical activity habits, though few follow-up studies exist.
“Unorganized sports are activities undertaken on one’s own initiative and interest, either alone or with others,” explains Postdoctoral Researcher Tuuli Suominen. “It can be anything from active play to jogging and ball games."
“We found that for girls, both organized and unorganized sports in childhood and adolescence were associated with more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in midlife. Girls who participated in organized sports also had higher daily step counts in adulthood compared to their less active peers.”
For boys, only organized sports participation was positively associated with physical activity in adulthood, leading to higher daily step counts, greater total physical activity, and less sedentary time.
Previous studies have found gender differences in motives and goals for physical activity, which may also explain the results of this study.
“Competition is a common motive for sports participation, especially among boys,” Suominen says.
“Organized sports often involve competition, which has been shown to predict greater physical activity in adulthood. Girls may be more motivated by health, fitness, and social aspects, supporting sustained physical activity for both organized and unorganized sports.”
“However, the motives for participating in sports are individual and diverse, and excessive competition is a key reason for dropping out for both genders,” says Salin.
High costs and lack of competence are additional barriers to sports participation. According to Salin and Suominen, physical activity should be affordable and supported in various settings and environments.
“It is important to encourage children and adolescents to be active, both in and out of sports clubs, to develop lifelong habits and a personal connection to physical activity,” says Suominen.
The study is part of the larger Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS), which has been following the same individuals since 1980. This study utilizes follow-up data from 1980, 1983, 1986, and 1989 on self-reported leisure-time physical activity and sports club participation of 9-, 12-, 15- and 18-year-old girls and boys. The same participants were measured for physical activity using accelerometers between 2018 and 2020, when they were on average 48 years old. Follow-up data from childhood and adolescence were obtained from 2,550 participants, with 1,002 of them having their adult physical activity measured.
The study was funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation.
Original publication:
Suominen TH, Kukko T, Pahkala K, Rovio S, Yang X, Kulmala J, Lounassalo I, Hirvensalo M, Raitakari O, Tammelin T & Salin K (2024). Longitudinal associations of participation in organized and unorganized sports in youth with physical activity in mid-adulthood: The Young Finns Study. Journal of Sports Sciences, 1–9.
Additional information:
Associate Professor Kasper Salin, kasper.j.salin@jyu.fi, tel. +358 40 805 3964
Postdoctoral Researcher Tuuli Suominen, tuuli.suominen@jyu.fi, tel. +358 40 805 4857
