The Integrative and Physiological Effects of Sport Participation: A Study of Adolescents

Abstract

The integrative and physiological effects of sport participation are investigated using data from a national survey of Icelandic adolescents. Focusing on mental health and health related behavior, the study shows more benefit from club sport than informal group sport, and, in turn, individual sport. As the physiological perspective suggests, beneficial effects are largely due to strenuousness of exercise. However, findings also suggest that club sport has an integrative effect when predicting positive aspects of mental health, an effect limited to urban communities, as comports with social integration theory.