The Relationship between High School Sport Participation and Physical Activity during the First Year of College

Abstract

Research indicates that adults (including college students) should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week (USDHHS, 2018). However, data collected from undergraduate students found that only 22.5% of respondents reported achieving at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity and only 12.6% reported achieving 75 minutes of vigorous activity (American College Health Association, 2022). One factor that may influence physical activity (PA) in the first year of college is history of sport participation during high school. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between sport participation in high school and physical activity levels during the first year of college. The relationship between high school sport participation and PA-related psychosocial variables during the first year of college was also examined. Surveys were administered to male and female first year undergraduate Kinesiology students (n=41) from the upper Midwest. Analyses indicated participants who participated in individual sports during high school reported higher levels of physical activity in their first year of college compared to those who participated in team sports during high school. Additionally, it was found that high school athletes who participated in individual sports reported higher levels of physical activity enjoyment during their first year of college compared to those who participated in team sports during high school. Future longitudinal studies are needed to better understand how history of sport participation impact physical activity during the transition to college.