When Is Sport Participation Risky or Protective for Alcohol Use? The Role of Teammates, Friendships, and Popularity

Abstract

Little is known about how adolescents' peer relations might alter whether sport participation is associated with alcohol use. Consistent with social learning theory, we found that sport participation was protective against alcohol use if these peers had low alcohol use, but athletes were likely to use alcohol if their sport friends and teammates had high alcohol use. Interestingly, those with no or low sport participation seemed to emulate the alcohol use of their non-sport friends, whereas adolescents in a high number of sports had elevated alcohol use regardless of their non-sport friends' alcohol use.

Evidencing Protective and Risk Factors for Harmful Alcohol Drinking in Adolescence: A Prospective Analysis of Sport-Participation and Scholastic-Achievement in Older Adolescents from Croatia

“…It has been suggested that sport participation may prevent problem behavior during adolescence, and this contention also concurs with etiological theories [ 26 , 27 ]. However, studies more often did not than did confirm protective effects of participation in sport against alcohol consumption in youth [ 25 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. In brief, since some investigators reported sports as being protective against drinking alcohol [ 31 ], a great deal of studies highlighted sports participation as a factor contributing to increased risk for alcohol consumption and binge drinking [ 25 , 28 , 29 , 30 ].…”

“…However, studies more often did not than did confirm protective effects of participation in sport against alcohol consumption in youth [ 25 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. In brief, since some investigators reported sports as being protective against drinking alcohol [ 31 ], a great deal of studies highlighted sports participation as a factor contributing to increased risk for alcohol consumption and binge drinking [ 25 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Again, differences in observed associations are explained regarding differences in the type of sport (i.e., differential influence of individual- and team-sport participation) [ 25 ], sex-specific factors [ 32 ], the level of sport participation (i.e., sport achievement) [ 23 ], social circumstances (i.e., parental influence, socioeconomic status) [ 25 ], and the role of teammates, friendship and popularity [ 30 ].…”

Adolescent sport participation and alcohol use: The importance of sport organization and the wider social context

“…Peer relations and factors related to family structure and parent-child relationships have received particular attention in this respect. Research consistently shows that peer drinking increases adolescents' alcohol use (Cruz et al, 2012;Fujimoto and Valente, 2012;Overbeek et al, 2010;Vest and Simpkins, 2013). Research also indicates that family-related variables, such as parental monitoring, time spent with parents and family structure, influence adolescent drinking (Barnes and Farrell, 1992;Dishion and McMahon, 1998;Flannery et al, 1999;Thorlindsson et al, 2007;Warr, 1993).…”

Leisure activity and alcohol use among Ukrainian adolescents

“…In our study, engagement in sports and alcohol use exhibited a significant interaction with gender, with elevated risks for boys but not girls. Vest and Simpkins (2013) found that athletes were likely to use alcohol if their sports friends and teammates had high alcohol use, suggesting that the association between engagement in sports and alcohol use is mediated through peer relations. Mays et al (2010) found that after controlling for demographics and sports-specific factors, perceived peer drinking was significantly associated with total alcohol-related behaviors among U.S. high school adolescents.…”