Barriers to voluntary participation in sport for children: a systematic review

Abstract Background Numerous studies have detailed the physical health benefits of children’s participation in sport and a growing body of research also highlights the benefits for mental health. Children who participate in sport have also been shown to be advantaged academically. However, despite t...

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Main Authors: Sarah Somerset, Derek J. Hoare
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2018-02-01
Series:BMC Pediatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-018-1014-1
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author Sarah Somerset
Derek J. Hoare
author_facet Sarah Somerset
Derek J. Hoare
author_sort Sarah Somerset
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Numerous studies have detailed the physical health benefits of children’s participation in sport and a growing body of research also highlights the benefits for mental health. Children who participate in sport have also been shown to be advantaged academically. However, despite the benefits there is evidence that children are leading increasingly sedentary lifestyles and are at greater risk of chronic disease than those with active lifestyles. Sport provides an important means for children to achieve their recommended amount of daily physical activity. This systematic review asks ‘what are those barriers to children’s participation in sport?’ Methods Literature searches were carried out in June 2015 using; EMBASE, Medline, CINAHL and SportDiscus using the search terms barrier*, stop*, prevent*, participat*, taking part, Sports/, sport*, “physical education”, PE, child*, young person*, adolescen*. These were supplemented with hand searches. A total of 3434 records were identified of which 22 were suitable for inclusion in the review, two additional studies were identified from Google Scholar in November 2016. Both qualitative and quantitative studies were included. Study’s included in the review assessed children up to 18 years of age. Study quality was assessed using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tools. Results Studies took place in the school environment (n = 14), sports club (n = 1), community setting (n = 8) and adolescent care setting (n = 1). Frequently reported barriers across quantitative studies were ‘time’ (n = 4), ‘cost’ (n = 3), ‘opportunity/accessibility’ (n = 3) and ‘friends’ (n = 2). Frequently reported barriers across qualitative studies were ‘time’ (n = 6), 'cost' (n = 5), 'not being good at sport' (n = 6) and ‘fear of being judged/embarrassed’ (n = 6). Conclusion Policy makers, parents and teachers should all be aware that ‘cost’ and ‘time’ are key barriers to participation in sport. More local sports opportunities are needed where costs are reduced. Schools and local clubs could better work together to provide more affordable local opportunities to increase children’s participation in sport.
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spelling doaj.art-08a316a03dd04de58e699620dd868ea12022-12-22T03:16:14ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312018-02-0118111910.1186/s12887-018-1014-1Barriers to voluntary participation in sport for children: a systematic reviewSarah Somerset0Derek J. Hoare1National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research CentreNational Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research CentreAbstract Background Numerous studies have detailed the physical health benefits of children’s participation in sport and a growing body of research also highlights the benefits for mental health. Children who participate in sport have also been shown to be advantaged academically. However, despite the benefits there is evidence that children are leading increasingly sedentary lifestyles and are at greater risk of chronic disease than those with active lifestyles. Sport provides an important means for children to achieve their recommended amount of daily physical activity. This systematic review asks ‘what are those barriers to children’s participation in sport?’ Methods Literature searches were carried out in June 2015 using; EMBASE, Medline, CINAHL and SportDiscus using the search terms barrier*, stop*, prevent*, participat*, taking part, Sports/, sport*, “physical education”, PE, child*, young person*, adolescen*. These were supplemented with hand searches. A total of 3434 records were identified of which 22 were suitable for inclusion in the review, two additional studies were identified from Google Scholar in November 2016. Both qualitative and quantitative studies were included. Study’s included in the review assessed children up to 18 years of age. Study quality was assessed using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tools. Results Studies took place in the school environment (n = 14), sports club (n = 1), community setting (n = 8) and adolescent care setting (n = 1). Frequently reported barriers across quantitative studies were ‘time’ (n = 4), ‘cost’ (n = 3), ‘opportunity/accessibility’ (n = 3) and ‘friends’ (n = 2). Frequently reported barriers across qualitative studies were ‘time’ (n = 6), 'cost' (n = 5), 'not being good at sport' (n = 6) and ‘fear of being judged/embarrassed’ (n = 6). Conclusion Policy makers, parents and teachers should all be aware that ‘cost’ and ‘time’ are key barriers to participation in sport. More local sports opportunities are needed where costs are reduced. Schools and local clubs could better work together to provide more affordable local opportunities to increase children’s participation in sport.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-018-1014-1SportParticipationBarriers
spellingShingle Sarah Somerset
Derek J. Hoare
Barriers to voluntary participation in sport for children: a systematic review
BMC Pediatrics
Sport
Participation
Barriers
title Barriers to voluntary participation in sport for children: a systematic review
title_full Barriers to voluntary participation in sport for children: a systematic review
title_fullStr Barriers to voluntary participation in sport for children: a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Barriers to voluntary participation in sport for children: a systematic review
title_short Barriers to voluntary participation in sport for children: a systematic review
title_sort barriers to voluntary participation in sport for children a systematic review
topic Sport
Participation
Barriers
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-018-1014-1
work_keys_str_mv AT sarahsomerset barrierstovoluntaryparticipationinsportforchildrenasystematicreview
AT derekjhoare barrierstovoluntaryparticipationinsportforchildrenasystematicreview