Boston, MA – A new
NPR/
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
poll finds that although almost three in four adults played sports when they were younger (73%), only one in four (25%) continue to play sports as adults.
But that decline in interest doesn’t stop parents from encouraging their children to make sports a part of their lives. In fact, almost nine in ten parents whose middle school or high school aged child plays sports (89%) say that their child benefits a great deal or quite a bit from participating in sports.
And, while most adults no longer play sports themselves, the majority of parents (72%) whose child plays sports say it is very likely or somewhat likely that their child will continue participating in sports when he/she becomes an adult. One in four parents (26%) whose high school aged child plays sports also hope their child will become a professional athlete.
When parents were asked about the benefits that their middle school or high school aged child gets from playing sports, more than eight in ten parents whose child plays sports say their child benefits a great deal or quite a bit in his/her physical health (88%) and helping him/her learn about discipline or dedication (81%). More than seven in ten parents say that playing sports benefits their child a great deal or quite a bit in learning how to get along with other people (78%) and his/her mental health (73%). More than half of parents report playing sports benefits their child a great deal or quite a bit in giving him/her skills to help in future schooling (56%), and giving him/her skills to help in a future career (55%).
Parents believe their children benefit from playing sports
Among the 72% of parents who said their middle or high school aged child played sports in the past year, % saying child benefited ‘a great deal’ or ‘quite a bit’ in the following ways:
Benefits child’s physical health 88%
Gives child something to do 83%
Child learns about discipline or dedication 81%
Child learns how to get along with other people 78%
Benefits child’s mental health 73%
Benefits child’s social life 65%
Gives child skills to help in future schooling 56%
Gives child skills to help in future career 55%
“Sports are a critical component of a healthy community. They help children and adults maintain a
healthy weight, teach acceptance and teamwork, and expand opportunity for children living in poverty,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “This poll indicates that we must continue to encourage children to play sports, but just as important, we must find ways to keep adults engaged in sports in order to maintain health and well-being.”
