Is it just a myth that sport is inclusive?

A new study finds that sport does not necessarily promote inclusion – it tends to attract youth who already feel socially secure.

Many young people with challenges at home, at school, or with their health found it difficult to get involved in sports.

(Photo: Shutterstock / NTB)

Nina Eriksen COMMUNICATIONS ADVISER

Presented by: Oslo Metropolitan University

Published 3 June 2025 - 00:01

“Sport is often viewed as a means of promoting social inclusion among youth, but our findings show that it rather reflects how their lives already are,” says Marlene Persson.

She is a researcher at OsloMet's social research institute NOVA.

“Young people who feel safe and are already embedded in a social community tend to participate more frequently in sports. Those facing various everyday challenges are often the ones who do not participate.” she says.

In a new study, Persson and colleague Ingunn Eriksen used data from the longitudinal Inequality in Youth study. They identified three main patterns in how youth relate to sports:

Non-participants: Young people who have not taken part in sports during youth.
Opted out: Those who quit sports during their teenage years.
Participants: Young people who regularly take part in organised sports throughout adolescence.

Lack of opportunities and other priorities

Among non-participants, the researchers found that those from majority backgrounds often faced difficulties in multiple areas – whether at home, at school, or with their health.

These challenges made it difficult for them to engage in sports. For many, participation simply did not appear to be an option.

“For some young people, participation in sport isn’t a choice. Not because they don’t want to, but because their life situation makes it difficult to fit into existing organised sports,” Persson explains.

Portrett forsker — “The way sports are currently organised is poorly suited to the most vulnerable youth, and ill-equipped to promote social inclusion,” says Marlene Persson.

Young people from minority backgrounds, on the other hand, were often well integrated in other social arenas. Nevertheless, many felt that traditional sports like handball, football, and skiing did not appeal to them.

“While majority youth who don’t participate in sports often struggle with school, family, or health, we see that minority youth who don’t take part tend to do well with family, friends, and school. What they lack are organised sports, equipment, or facilities that better align with their interests,” she says.

Sports as a reflection of life circumstances

Young people who had either quit sports or were still participating generally felt safe and socially included.

For them, sports were merely a natural part of an active social life. It was not something that determined whether they felt a sense of belonging or not.

“Our findings suggest that in Norway, where organised sports hold a strong cultural position, it's not the sport itself that creates social inclusion. Rather, it reflects how included young people already feel in society,” says Persson.

So why do many believe that sports are inclusive?

Many studies, such as Ungdata, highlight several positive outcomes for young people who participate in organised sports. These include higher life satisfaction and greater self-esteem. They also use fewer drugs and experience less bullying than those who do not participate.

Such findings are often used by authorities and sports organisations to argue that sports can help achieve social policy goals – particularly those aimed at preventing young people from falling outside of social communities.

“Our findings certainly don’t mean that sports don’t contribute positively to the lives of many young people. But instead of assuming that these surveys show how sports influence youth, we should view them as a reflection of who's already involved in sports,” says Persson.

Inequality in Youth is a type of study where researchers have followed the same young people from age 13 to 19. This means they were able to explore more deeply and also uncover underlying reasons why adolescents choose to participate – or not – in sports. This paints a slightly different picture.

Implications for future policy and practice

The study provides valuable insights into how young people’s engagement in sports is connected to their social lives and everyday circumstances.

Persson believes these findings should influence future policy and practice from both the government and within sports organisations.

“Firstly, we must acknowledge that the way sports are currently organised is poorly suited to the most vulnerable youth, and ill-equipped to promote social inclusion,” she says.

For these young people, other leisure activities or options may be more important. These might include youth clubs with trustworthy adults or easily accessible health services at school.

Secondly, if the goal is to include new groups, sports cannot just offer more of the same.

One of the participants in the study, for instance, said that there were many football clubs and pitches in his area. But what he and his friends really wanted was a place to play basketball, something that was completely lacking.

“What activities are available determines who takes part, so new opportunities must be created to reach more young people. The problem is that the sports democracy and local councils tend to prioritise the largest sports, making it more difficult to invest in new activities,” says Persson.

Reference:

Persson, M.F. & Eriksen, I.M. Sports participation as a reflection of social inclusion in youth: a holistic exploration of sport within young people’s lives, Sport, Education and Society, 2025. DOI: 10.1080/13573322.2025.2451354

About Inequality in Youth

Inequality in Youth explores how social inequality plays out during adolescence. It is a longitudinal, qualitative study based on repeated interviews with 81 young people across four different communities in Norway. The researchers followed them from the age of 13 to 19.

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Read the Norwegian version of this article on forskning.no