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Longitudinal Association Between Participation in Organized Sport and Psychosocial Development in Early Childhood

Ross D Neville1, Ye Guo2, Colin A Boreham1

  • 1School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|November 6, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Early developmental delays in boys are linked to behavioral issues. Participation in organized sports can help reduce these difficulties by age five.

Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Sports Science
  • Psychosocial Outcomes

Background:

  • Early developmental delays impact long-term psychosocial outcomes.
  • The role of organized sport in mitigating these effects requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if organized sport participation influences the association between early developmental delays and later psychosocial outcomes.
  • To examine the specific impact of sports on behavioral difficulties and prosocial behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the "Growing Up in Ireland" infant cohort study.
  • Assessed child development at age 1 year using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire.
  • Evaluated psychosocial characteristics at ages 3 and 5 years with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and sport engagement at age 5.

Main Results:

  • 15% of children had developmental delays at age 1 year, showing increased behavioral difficulties and decreased prosocial behaviors at age 3.
  • For boys with early delays, sports participation significantly reduced behavioral difficulties between ages 3 and 5.
  • No significant associations were found for girls or for prosocial behaviors in boys or girls.

Conclusions:

  • Organized sport may help boys with early developmental delays by reducing behavioral difficulties.
  • Limited access to sports could negatively impact behavioral regulation in preschool-aged boys.
Abstract

Keywords:
behavioral difficultiesdevelopmental screeningearly childhood developmentparticipation in organized sportprosocial behaviors

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