Does Sport Participation Deter or Encourage Violence? Patterns of Sport Participation and Acts of Violence Over the Life Course
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19220484 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Emily Nothnagle (0000-0003-4092-194X, The Ohio State University), Chris Knoester (0000-0003-3177-3527, The Ohio State University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-15 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Sociology of Sport Journal (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0741-1235 • E-ISSN: 1543-2785 |
| Publisher | Human Kinetics (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1123/ssj.2025-0140 |
| OpenAlex | W7162021954 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 56 |
Using data from the National Sports and Society Survey ( N = 3,993) and logistic regression analyses, this study drew upon social control, differential association, and life course theories to examine relationships between sport participation and acts of violence. Although initial results found a positive association between organized youth sport participation and violence, subsequent findings indicated that playing organized sports and dropping out while growing up was uniquely and positively associated with ever committing violence. In addition, playing heavy-contact sports was also positively associated with ever committing violence. There was also evidence that playing organized youth sport and recently playing sport regularly were positively associated with recent acts of violence. Overall, this study contributes to understanding of how sport participation may be connected to violence
Association (psychology) · Differential (mechanical device) · Differential association · Life course approach · Sociology of sport · Sport management · Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports · Sport and Mega-Event Impacts · Sports, Gender, and Society
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U.S. youth sports participation
Masculinity and Sport Revisted
The Relationship Between Youth Sport Participation and Aggressive and Violent Behaviors
Moral Development in Adolescence
Sports Participation and Juvenile Delinquency
Sports-related Mistreatment in the U.S
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |