Do Sports Programs Prevent Crime and Reduce Reoffending? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Effectiveness of Sports Programs

Jugl, Irina; Bender, Doris; Lösel, Friedrich

doi:10.1007/s10940-021-09536-3

Cited by 25 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 91 publications

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“…Similar to our findings, a recent meta-review found a moderate positive effect of sports programs (excluding martial arts programs and outdoor or adventure activities, but including yoga) on criminal behavior (e.g., reconviction, drug use, anger, self-control, and impulsivity) in favor of the sports programs (d = 0.36) in a sample containing both children and adults (Jugl et al, 2021). In line with our results, the authors could not find significant moderating effects for study design or sample characteristics.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Recently, a meta-analytic review was published on the effect of sports programs on crime-related outcomes including reconviction, drug use, anger, self-control, and impulsivity in a sample containing both children and adults (Jugl et al, 2021). Studies were eligible if the design was quasi-experimental or a RCT.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, both meta-analytic reviews were limited to adolescents or young adults (aged < 21). Thus far, only Jugl and colleagues included both children and adults, yet most of their sports programs specifically aimed to promote personal development (e.g., improving prosocial behavior and self-confidence) rather than to improve fitness parameters (Jugl et al, 2021). This resulted in the inclusion of a range of activities that were not always related to physical activity, such as reading and numeracy lessons.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The efficacy of physical activity interventions in reducing antisocial behavior: a meta-analytic review

et al. 2022

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Objectives This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the efficacy of physical activity interventions in the reduction of antisocial behavior in children and adults. Several possible moderators, including study design, sample characteristics (age, proportion male, and sample type), control group, and outcome characteristics (type of activity, duration, frequency), were also investigated. Methods A literature search was performed in the following databases: PubMed, Ebsco/SportDiscus, Ebsco/APA PsycINFO, Ebsco/ERIC, Ebsco/Criminal Justice Abstracts, Embase.com, and Clarivate Analytics/Web of Science Core Collection from inception to June 2021. Studies were eligible if they reviewed the effect of chronic physical activity interventions on antisocial behavior compared to wait-list, no-exercise, or attention control samples. The following studies were excluded: animal studies, studies reporting on acute exercise, studies including yoga or mindfulness as the sole measure of physical activity, and studies including substance (ab)use and/or smoking as the only outcome measure. A random effects model was used to calculate pooled effect sizes. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (version 2). Results The search yielded 29 studies, of which 20 were included in the meta-analysis. Results indicate a significant small-to-medium effect (g = − 0.26) with a 95% confidence interval ranging from − 0.48 to − 0.04 in favor of physical activity interventions. Significant moderators included type of control group, type of physical activity, and type of antisocial behavior, with larger effect sizes for comparisons with inactive control groups (g = − 0.31), interventions containing walking, jogging, or running as the main type of physical activity (g = − 0.87), and anger/hostility as an antisocial outcome measure (g = − 0.42). Conclusions Physical activity interventions may be a promising way to reduce antisocial behavior in children and adults. However, due to the overall high risk of bias in the included studies, more sound evaluation research is needed to better understand the functioning and to improve the possible implementation of physical activity interventions.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The efficacy of physical activity interventions in reducing antisocial behavior: a meta-analytic review

et al. 2022

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“…Even though we adjusted for covariates, potential unmeasured confounding factors (such as parental criminal involvement) could undermine the magnitude of the PARF for poverty in relation to criminal convictions. Fourth, though the focus of this work was individual and family risk factors, all these factors interact with contextual factors (school quality 40 , neighborhood indicators such as availability of sporting activities in the neighborhood 41 , criminality levels, etc.) that were not assessed in the present study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Childhood individual and family modifiable risk factors for criminal conviction: a 7-year cohort study from Brazil

Ziebold

Evans‐Lacko

Andrade

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Crime is a major public problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and its preventive measures could have great social impact. The extent to which multiple modifiable risk factors among children and families influence juvenile criminal conviction in an LMIC remains unexplored; however, it is necessary to identify prevention targets. This study examined the association between 22 modifiable individual and family exposures assessed in childhood (5–14 years, n = 2511) and criminal conviction at a 7-year follow-up (13–21 years, n = 1905, 76% retention rate) in a cohort of young people in Brazil. Population attributable risk fraction (PARF) was computed for significant risk factors. Criminal convictions were reported for 81 (4.3%) youths. Although most children living in poverty did not present criminal conviction (89%), poverty at baseline was the only modifiable risk factor significantly associated with crime (OR 4.14, 99.8% CI 1.38–12.46) with a PARF of 22.5% (95% CI 5.9–36.1%). It suggests that preventing children’s exposure to poverty would reduce nearly a quarter of subsequent criminal convictions. These findings highlight the importance of poverty in criminal conviction, as it includes several deprivations and suggest that poverty eradication interventions during childhood may be crucial for reducing crime among Brazilian youth.

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“…There is now international consensus that participation in sport and physical activity helps to treat and prevent noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, various cancers, dementia, and depression [ 10 ]. Furthermore, an increasing number of higher-quality studies show that sport and physical activity are positively associated with other social outcomes such as improved subjective wellbeing, reduced crime, and better educational attainment [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Although the quality of evidence for these outcomes is not as robust as for health, the weight of evidence suggests growing support for these wider impacts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Value of Recreational Physical Activity in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Scoping Review of Evidence and Implications for Social Value Measurement

Griffiths

Davies

Savage³

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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Internationally, there is rising interest in measuring the value of sport and physical activity to society. A critical step in valuing the sector is first establishing the relationship between engagement in sport and physical activity and the societal outcomes that ensue. This paper summarises the findings of a literature review carried out as part of a larger study on the Social Return on Investment (SROI) of recreational physical activity in Aotearoa New Zealand. The review aimed to synthesise existing evidence on the relationship between recreational physical activity and wellbeing outcomes for all New Zealanders, including tangata whenua (Māori, who are Aotearoa New Zealand’s Indigenous population). The methodology took the format of a scoping review and included a series of searches for academic and grey literature, including literature concerning Māori that might have been overlooked in a traditional academic search. The findings are grouped into five outcome areas: physical health; subjective wellbeing; individual development; personal behaviour; and social and community development. The review found some compelling evidence which shows examples of the links between sport and physical activity and outcomes in each of these areas for specific population sub-groups. In particular, for Māori, the findings demonstrate a strong impact on social and community development through building social capital and enhancing cultural identity. However, in all outcome areas, there is mixed quality evidence, a small amount of evidence on which to base definitive conclusions, and limited evidence relating to the monetary value of outcomes. The review concludes that there is a need for further research to strengthen the evidence base for social impact measurement, particularly around the impact of sport and physical activity for Indigenous populations.

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Do Sports Programs Prevent Crime and Reduce Reoffending? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Effectiveness of Sports Programs

Cited by 25 publications

References 91 publications

The efficacy of physical activity interventions in reducing antisocial behavior: a meta-analytic review

The efficacy of physical activity interventions in reducing antisocial behavior: a meta-analytic review

Childhood individual and family modifiable risk factors for criminal conviction: a 7-year cohort study from Brazil

The Value of Recreational Physical Activity in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Scoping Review of Evidence and Implications for Social Value Measurement

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