ABSTRACT

Physical activity is essential for good health and sport participation is an important contributor to physical activity. Sport can achieve many health and broader social benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (Indigenous Australians). Children’s physical activity typically declines during teenage years. This study examined 14-year sport participation trends among youth aged 15–19 years. Indigenous youth sport participant levels were lower than non-Indigenous levels. The highest sports participation level was 80.1% (non-Indigenous males, 2016); the lowest was 56.8% (Indigenous females, 2018). Lower sport participation was reported by females compared to males in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups in each survey year with the lowest levels found among Indigenous females. These findings challenge current discourses of high Indigenous sport participation. A comprehensive understanding of the factors related to sports participation is required to inform future strategies and programmes to increase participation and contribute to closing health and broader equity gaps.

摘要

身体活动对身体健康至关重要，参与体育运动是身体活动的重要因素。体育可以为原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民（澳大利亚原住民）带来许多健康和更广泛的社会效益。儿童的身体活动通常在青少年时期下降。本研究调查了 15-19 岁青少年 14 年的体育参与趋势。土著青年体育参与者水平低于非土著水平。最高体育参与度为 80.1%（非原住民男性，2016 年）；最低的是 56.8%（土著女性，2018 年）。在每个调查年度中，与男性相比，女性的体育参与率较低，在土著和非土著群体中，土著女性的水平最低。这些发现挑战了当前关于土著体育参与度高的论述。需要全面了解与体育参与相关的因素，以便为未来的战略和计划提供信息，以增加参与并有助于缩小健康和更广泛的公平差距。