Engaging in Organized Sports Can Help Reduce Defiant Behavior in Boys
A recent study conducted in Canada and Italy has revealed a compelling reason for children to participate in organized sports from a young age.
Apart from the physical benefits of exercise, the study found that children aged six to 10 who engage in organized sports are less likely to exhibit defiant behaviors towards their parents, teachers, and other authority figures.
The research, based on data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development and involving over 1,500 children born in 1997 and 1998, focused on the impact of participating in extracurricular sports on the development of oppositional-defiant behavior between the ages of 10 and 12.
Lead author Matteo Privitera, a doctoral student at the University of Pavia supervised by Professor Linda Pagani from Université de Montréal’s School of Psycho-Education, highlighted that oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD) is often overlooked and can be linked to other developmental disorders. ODD is characterized by persistent defiance, irritability, and hostility towards authority figures, and is more common in boys.
The study discovered that boys who consistently took part in organized sports displayed fewer oppositional-defiant symptoms compared to those with low or irregular participation. Privitera suggested that sports can serve as a valuable environment for boys to learn self-regulation, cooperation, and respect for rules.
On the other hand, the study did not find a similar correlation between organized sports and oppositional-defiant behaviors in girls. However, researchers emphasized the positive impact of structured extracurricular activities in promoting behavioral resilience, particularly in boys.
Factors such as family income, maternal education, and the child’s behavioral profiles were also considered in the study’s analysis.
In light of these findings, experts recommend that children engage in organized sports as a way to potentially reduce disruptive behavior disorders and enhance long-term well-being.
