Abstract

This study aimed at identifying and describing patterns of sports participation during high school among a general population of students and examining individual, social, and environmental predictors of pattern membership. A sample of 287 high school students (61% girls) from Quebec (Canada) annually reported all the organized sports in which they had participated over the school year during five consecutive years (from Grade 7 to 11; in the Quebec school system, high school is comprised of five years). The predictors were assessed at the end of elementary school (Grade 6). Latent class analyses brought out four different patterns (specialized, moderate-sports, low-sports and no-sport participation). Multinomial logistic regressions revealed that adolescents’ sex, parental involvement, best friends’ participation in sports and family income were significant predictors of pattern membership. Parental involvement and family income significantly predicted membership in the specialized pattern relative to other patterns, suggesting that tangible support from parent is necessary for youth to maintain their long term commitment in a single sport. Findings highlight that efforts aimed at promoting sport participation during adolescence should target girls and encourage parents to get involved in their children’s organized sports.

摘要

本研究旨在识别和描述普通学生在高中期间参与体育运动的模式，并检查模式成员的个人、社会和环境预测因素。来自魁北克（加拿大）的 287 名高中生（61% 的女生）的样本每年报告他们在连续五年（从 7 年级到 11 年级）在一个学年内参加的所有有组织的运动；在魁北克学校系统中，高学制为五年）。在小学结束时（6 年级）评估了预测因子。潜在类别分析带来了四种不同的模式（专业、中等运动、低运动和非运动参与）。多项逻辑回归显示，青少年的性别、父母参与、最好的朋友参与体育运动和家庭收入是模式成员的重要预测因素。与其他模式相比，父母的参与和家庭收入显着预测了特定模式的成员资格，这表明父母的切实支持对于青少年维持他们在单一运动中的长期承诺是必要的。调查结果强调，旨在促进青春期体育参与的努力应以女孩为目标，并鼓励父母参与孩子的有组织的体育运动。