The relationship between vigorous physical activity and juvenile delinquency: a mediating role for self-esteem?

Full Abstract

Many policy-related reviews of the potential social value of sport and physical activity list the prevention of juvenile delinquency. We examined the relationships among vigorous physical activity, self-esteem, and delinquent behavior among adolescents in a large cross-sectional survey of Ontario adolescents. Data are based on questionnaires from 3,796 students (range 11-20 years) derived from the 2005 Ontario Student Drug Use Survey. Negative binominal regression methods were used to estimate both additive and interactive models predicting delinquent behavior. Vigorous physical activity was positively associated with delinquent behavior; however, this pattern of association was observed only among male adolescents. There was no evidence of a mediating role for self-esteem. Our findings suggest that physical activity is not the solution for reducing juvenile delinquency.

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Author information

Author/s: Faulkner, Guy E J (GE); Adlaf, Edward M (EM); Irving, Hyacinth M (HM); Allison, Kenneth R (KR); Dwyer, John J M (JJ); Goodman, Jack (J);

Affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Health University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. guy.faulkner(-atsign-)utoronto.ca

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of behavioral medicine (J Behav Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Apr; vol 30 (issue 2) : pp 155-63

Dates: Created 2007/03/15; Completed 2007/10/18; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 17268877, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
Antisocial Personality Disorder - epidemiology; prevention & control; psychology
Attitude to Health
Child
Educational Status
Exercise - psychology
Female
Health Surveys

Humans
Juvenile Delinquency - prevention & control; psychology; statistics & numerical data
Male
Ontario
Self Concept
Sex Factors
Social Values
Socioeconomic Factors
Statistics as Topic

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