When Easterlin became a pediatrician, she started seeing a lot of kids suffering from trauma, from physical abuse to emotional neglect. Many of these kids didn't respond fully to traditional treatment for trauma and depression. Frustrated and searching for answers, Easterlin turned to her own past. "I suspected that sports might have a powerful impact [on kids]," she says.
Easterlin wanted to know: Could sports improve the lives of people with trauma the way they'd improved hers?
Her research, published Tuesday in JAMA Pediatrics, finds that, in short, yes: Participation in team sports as a young person can significantly reduce the long-term likelihood of depression and anxiety for people with childhood trauma. But according to Easterlin and other experts, the growing cost of youth team sports means that they can be off-limits to those who may need them most, kids living in poverty.
In the burgeoning U.S. youth sports industry, many sports now require steep fees for participation, a factor that limits lower-income kids' ability to participate. This trend, known as "pay to play" sports programming, is allowed in 49 states.
To analyze how team sports impact the health of people who've experienced childhood adversity, Easterlin and her colleagues analyzed data from 9668 teens who participated in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. They honed in on about 5,000 teens who had reported one or more ACEs.
To read more of Susie Neilson's article, please click here.
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