Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Author ORCID Identifier

Natalie Stagnone https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2367-8532

Katherine Alexander https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6067-6086

Volume

22

Issue

7

Publisher

MDPI AG

Publication Date

6-26-2025

Journal Article Version

Version of Record

First Page

1

Last Page

18

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Abstract

Physical activity is well-established as beneficial for children’s physical and mental health, yet limited research has explored how different activity types impact psychosocial outcomes. This is a cross-sectional study that examined associations between youth participation in organized sport, unstructured physical activity, and land-use recreation and their psychosocial health. Survey data were collected from 3246 caregivers of children in the Intermountain West region of the United States. Respondents reported on children’s physical activity engagement and psychosocial outcomes, including mental health, emotional control, and social well-being. All three activity types were significantly associated with improved psychosocial health (p < 0.001). Compared to organized sport, unstructured physical activity and land-use recreation were associated with significantly higher levels of mental health and emotional control (padj < 0.001), although with a small effect size (η2 < 0.006). No significant differences were observed in social well-being across activity types (p = 0.2928). When controlling for gender and community type, distinct psychosocial benefits emerged between activity types. These findings suggest that, while all forms of physical activity support psychosocial development, unstructured and naturebased activities may offer particular advantages. Findings highlight the importance of promoting diverse forms of physical activity and considering individual and contextual factors in maximizing their psychosocial benefits.

Download

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS