Does Relative Age Influence Organized Sport and Unorganized Physical Activity Participation in a Cohort of Adolescents?
Despite their prevalence, the longitudinal impacts of relative age effects (RAEs) on sport and other forms of physical activity (PA) are understudied. This study examined longitudinal participation patterns in organized sport (team and individual), unorganized PA, and non-participation with respect...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Sports |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/10/7/97 |
| _version_ | 1797415778467708928 |
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| author | Kristy L. Smith Mathieu Bélanger Laura Chittle Jess C. Dixon Sean Horton Patricia L. Weir |
| author_facet | Kristy L. Smith Mathieu Bélanger Laura Chittle Jess C. Dixon Sean Horton Patricia L. Weir |
| author_sort | Kristy L. Smith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite their prevalence, the longitudinal impacts of relative age effects (RAEs) on sport and other forms of physical activity (PA) are understudied. This study examined longitudinal participation patterns in organized sport (team and individual), unorganized PA, and non-participation with respect to RAEs in a prospective cohort of adolescents. Data from the first 24 cycles of the MATCH study were used for analyses. Elementary students (<i>n</i> = 929) were recruited from 17 schools in Atlantic Canada. Respondents self-reported PA three times/year. Mixed multilevel logistic models compared the likelihood of participating in each context across birth quarter. Chronological age and gender were considered, along with the interaction between chronological and relative age. Individuals born in Quarter 1/Quarter 2 were more likely to report participation in organized team sport but not individual sports. Relatively older participants born in Quarter 2 were more likely to report participation in unorganized PA. Increasing chronological age was associated with decreased participation in organized sport (particularly team-based) and increased non-participation. Gender was not associated with organized sport participation, but girls were under-represented in unorganized PA and more likely to report non-participation. The interaction parameters suggested that RAEs were consistent throughout adolescence in each context. Longitudinal analyses suggest RAEs are context dependent. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:54:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-97552ea3a8824618a7b38ea2d5727d67 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4663 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:54:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sports |
| spelling | doaj.art-97552ea3a8824618a7b38ea2d5727d672023-12-03T12:14:37ZengMDPI AGSports2075-46632022-06-011079710.3390/sports10070097Does Relative Age Influence Organized Sport and Unorganized Physical Activity Participation in a Cohort of Adolescents?Kristy L. Smith0Mathieu Bélanger1Laura Chittle2Jess C. Dixon3Sean Horton4Patricia L. Weir5Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, CanadaDepartment of Family Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5H3, CanadaDepartment of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, CanadaDepartment of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, CanadaDepartment of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, CanadaDepartment of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, CanadaDespite their prevalence, the longitudinal impacts of relative age effects (RAEs) on sport and other forms of physical activity (PA) are understudied. This study examined longitudinal participation patterns in organized sport (team and individual), unorganized PA, and non-participation with respect to RAEs in a prospective cohort of adolescents. Data from the first 24 cycles of the MATCH study were used for analyses. Elementary students (<i>n</i> = 929) were recruited from 17 schools in Atlantic Canada. Respondents self-reported PA three times/year. Mixed multilevel logistic models compared the likelihood of participating in each context across birth quarter. Chronological age and gender were considered, along with the interaction between chronological and relative age. Individuals born in Quarter 1/Quarter 2 were more likely to report participation in organized team sport but not individual sports. Relatively older participants born in Quarter 2 were more likely to report participation in unorganized PA. Increasing chronological age was associated with decreased participation in organized sport (particularly team-based) and increased non-participation. Gender was not associated with organized sport participation, but girls were under-represented in unorganized PA and more likely to report non-participation. The interaction parameters suggested that RAEs were consistent throughout adolescence in each context. Longitudinal analyses suggest RAEs are context dependent.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/10/7/97relative age effectsparticipation trendslongitudinalsport contextphysical activity |
| spellingShingle | Kristy L. Smith Mathieu Bélanger Laura Chittle Jess C. Dixon Sean Horton Patricia L. Weir Does Relative Age Influence Organized Sport and Unorganized Physical Activity Participation in a Cohort of Adolescents? Sports relative age effects participation trends longitudinal sport context physical activity |
| title | Does Relative Age Influence Organized Sport and Unorganized Physical Activity Participation in a Cohort of Adolescents? |
| title_full | Does Relative Age Influence Organized Sport and Unorganized Physical Activity Participation in a Cohort of Adolescents? |
| title_fullStr | Does Relative Age Influence Organized Sport and Unorganized Physical Activity Participation in a Cohort of Adolescents? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does Relative Age Influence Organized Sport and Unorganized Physical Activity Participation in a Cohort of Adolescents? |
| title_short | Does Relative Age Influence Organized Sport and Unorganized Physical Activity Participation in a Cohort of Adolescents? |
| title_sort | does relative age influence organized sport and unorganized physical activity participation in a cohort of adolescents |
| topic | relative age effects participation trends longitudinal sport context physical activity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/10/7/97 |
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