Two new sports and society research projects using data from the SSI-sponsored National Sports and Society Survey were recently published in the Sociology of Sport Journal.

The National Sports and Society Survey, or NSASS, is a landmark collection of extensive sports- and society-focused survey data from 4,000 U.S. adults.

Emily Nothnagle, a graduate student in The Ohio State University College of Social Work, led a study examining the implications of youth sports experiences for violent behavior. Laura Upenieks, a professor at Baylor University, was the lead author of a study exploring the connections between religiosity and sports gambling.

Both studies were co-authored by SSI Research Chair Chris Knoester, a professor of sociology at Ohio State, and featured by Ohio State News.

Youth sports and violence

Elizabeth Weinstein summarized the study by Nothnagle and Knoester for Ohio State News:

Contrary to popular belief, simply playing organized youth sports does not reduce the likelihood of committing violence during one’s lifetime and, in some cases, may increase it, according to the study.

The study found that while most survey respondents — including those who played youth sports — never engaged in violence, 17% reported committing acts of violence. Regular participation in heavy-contact sports and dropping out after initially playing organized youth sports were particularly associated with committing acts of violence over the life course.

“Our findings challenge the common notion that sports are inherently good — that you just put kids in sports after school and it’s going to be OK,” said Nothnagle, a doctoral student and former captain of Ohio State’s national championship varsity pistol team. “There is more to the story.”

Nothnagle and Knoester found that the type of sport, level and length of engagement, and presence of positive peer influences all matter when examining associations between organized youth sports and violence.

A key takeaway from the research, Knoester said, is that there is “evidence that sport participation is not associated with reductions in the risk of committing violence.”

“In fact, we find consistent evidence that sport is more likely to increase the risk of ever committing violence, and this is especially the case when people are playing more violent sports,” he said. “This suggests that it’s important to rethink how we are conducting sports in society and the types of programs and messaging that we’re introducing children into, if we want more positive outcomes.”

One example of an organized sports program focused on positive youth development, Knoester noted, is Ohio State’s LiFEsports program. The program teaches young athletes social and leadership skills, provides education for coaches and is supported by research demonstrating its impact.

Nothnagle, an active leader and scholar associated with LiFEsports and its Coach Beyond program, said she hopes a better understanding of the conditions that produce positive and negative outcomes for sports participants can lead to systemic change.

“Life skills are taught, not caught. So, it’s about trying to create those environments that shape the behaviors and outcomes you want to see,” she said.

Read the complete article.

Religiosity and sports gambling

Emily Caldwell summarized the study by Upenieks and Knoester for Ohio State News:

Having a religious affiliation does not prevent people in the United States from betting on sports, according to the study.

The results showed that people who infrequently attend religious services are more likely to gamble on sports than those who attend services at least weekly or never attend public worship.

Catholics—particularly Catholic men—stood out as the group most likely to engage in sports gambling.

Overall, researchers found that religious identity can serve as both a protective factor and an encouragement for sports gambling. Women, particularly those with religious affiliations, were less likely than men to place sports bets.

“Our findings suggest that sports gambling behaviors seem to be a function of religious identities, affiliations, cultures and practices, but in pretty nuanced ways,” Knoester said. “For most people, sports gambling seems to be an occasional and low-stakes hobby or leisure activity.”

Read the complete article.