Work

Sports team participation and alcohol-related behaviors among United States high school students: Outcome-specific associations and temporal change, 2011–2023

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Objective: Sports team participation is associated with both beneficial and harmful health behaviors, but whether its association with adolescent alcohol use has changed as alcohol use has declined is unclear. Methods: We analyzed nationally representative Youth Risk Behavior Survey data from 110,409 United States students in grades 9-12 (2011-2023). Survey-weighted logistic regression and marginal standardization estimated adjusted associations and prevalence by participation status. Models adjusted for sex, grade, race and ethnicity, and survey year. The primary binge-drinking analysis covered 2019-2023. Results: Overall current alcohol use declined from 38.72% in 2011 to 22.10% in 2023. Adjusted prevalence declined from 37.86% to 19.20% among nonparticipants and from 39.40% to 25.52% among participants; the gap increased from 1.54 to 6.32 percentage points. Temporal patterns were nonmonotonic, with weaker omnibus evidence on the absolute than relative scales. Participation was associated with higher odds of current alcohol use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20, 1.33) and binge drinking (aOR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.44, 1.79). Conclusions: Sports team participation was associated with current alcohol use and binge drinking. Sports settings may be useful contexts for alcohol prevention without characterizing sports participation as uniformly harmful or protective.

Source: Preventive Medicine Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2026.103675

Authors: Linlin Zhao, Hao Sun, Weijun Liu

Institutions: Beijing Sport University, Wuhan Sports University

Language: English

Topic: Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,610