Title:

Do Physical Fitness and Social-Emotional Wellness in College Students Differ Between Those Who Continue or Discontinue Organized Sports?

Do health-related physical fitness and social-emotional wellness in college men and women differ between those who discontinue or continue to participate in organized sports? Brent Bode University of New Hampshire Objectives: To investigate differences in health-related fitness (HRF) measures, as well as examine socio-emotional wellness (SEW), in college men and women (18-24 years) who discontinue organized sports (DCS) post-high school or who continue organized collegiate sports (CS). Methods: Data were analyzed between 2015-21 from the College Health and Nutrition Assessment Survey, an on-going cross-sectional study at a public New England university. Cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) was estimated from a 1-mile walk test, body composition (% body fat) was measured via bioimpedance, upper-body muscular fitness was assessed via push-ups (max # of repetitions), and flexibility assessed via sit-reach test (cm). A multi-item online questionnaire collected self-report participation in school-sponsored sports, as well as SEW (self-managed emotional stress, life satisfaction, and available socio-emotional support). Differences in measures of HRF and SEW between students who CS and DCS were assessed via ANCOVA and chi-square analyses (SPSS, p<.05). Results: Final sample size (n=2,342) included 16% (n=374; men=135, women=239) who were categorized as CS and 84% who were categorized as DCS (n=1968, men=760, women=1208). Both men and women in the CS group had higher muscle fitness compared to those in the DCS Group (36.5±1.3 vs. 33.0±.5, p<.05; 28.0±0.8 vs. 19.7±0.4 reps, p<.01, respectively). Further, men and women in the CS group had better flexibility compared to those in the DCS Group (26.1±.8 vs. 22.8±.3, p<.01; 30.7±0.5 vs. 28.7±0.2 reps, p<.01, respectively). No differences in body composition were observed in either men or women who CS vs. DCS (p>.05). Among men, no significant differences were found between CS or DCS groups self-reported stress management. Women in the DCS group were twice as likely to report they rarely/never managed their emotional stress compared to those in the CS group (15.0% vs. 7.5%, p=.01). No differences in life satisfaction were observed in either men or women who CS vs. DCS (93.0% vs. 90.8%, 94.4% vs. 93.1%, respectively p>.05). Further, no differences in those who report always/usually receiving socio- emotional support were observed in either men or women who CS vs. DCS (65.1 vs. 61.5%, 65.5 vs. 69.6%, respectively p>.05). Conclusions: For college men and women lower muscular endurance and flexibility was associated with discontinuation of organized sports. Discontinuation of sports was also associated with lower stress management among female students. This finding may help college administrators and health professionals tailor supports for young adults entering college after discontinuing organized sports. Further research is needed to further understand this impact on young adults. Funding Sources: The New Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Station and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project 1010738.

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