Sport engagement and life satisfaction in late childhood: a population-based analysis

While sport participation and physical activity are widely recognized as beneficial for children's well-being, limited research has examined how the frequency of sport engagement relates to life satisfaction (LS) in late childhood. This study aimed to (1) describe the frequency of sport participation, active transport, and LS among Norwegian children aged 10-12 years, and (2) assess the associations between sport participation frequency, active transport mode, and LS, with attention to gender differences.

Cross-sectional data were drawn from the 2024 Norwegian Ungdata Junior Survey, comprising 46,941 children aged 10-12 years. Participants completed an electronic questionnaire during school hours. Linear regression models were used to examine associations between sport participation frequency, transport mode, and LS (measured on a 0-10 scale), adjusting for socioeconomic status, grade level, and centrality, and stratified by gender.

Boys reported significantly higher LS than girls (mean 8.4 vs. 7.7, p < 0.01). Among boys, LS increased with sport participation frequency, from 8.0 (no evenings) to 8.6 (five evenings per week). In contrast, girls' LS remained relatively stable across participation levels (7.7-7.8). Regression analysis showed the strongest positive associations with LS observed for children participating in organized sports one to three evenings per week. No significant associations were found between type of transport and LS for either gender.

In a large sample of representative Norwegian children aged 10-12 years of age, LS scores for boys progressed by the frequency of weekly sport participation but remained stable for girls. Still, the strongest positive associations between sport participation and LS were among those engaging in sports one to three sessions per week, which suggests that a balanced approach to youth sports, emphasizing enjoyment, autonomy, and social connection, may be more effective in promoting well-being than maximizing participation frequency in late childhood.