SPORT AND DELINQUENCY - AN EXAMINATION OF THE DETERRENCE HYPOTHESIS IN A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

Objective-To determine whether involvement in sporting activity in mid adolescence would deter delinquent behaviour in late adolescence. Meth ods-Members of a longitudinal cohort study were interviewed at ages 15 and 18 years and, among other topics, were asked questions relating t o involvement in physical activity and delinquent behaviour. Logistic regression models were used to examine the relation between sports inv olvement and delinquency at age 15 years and delinquency at age 18. Re sults-After controlling for delinquent behaviour and psychosocial fact ors at age 15, females with moderate or high levels of sporting activi ty, and males with high levels of sporting activity, were significantl y more likely to be delinquent at age 18 years than those with low lev els of sporting activity. No significant association was found between sporting activity and aggressive behaviour, team sport participation and delinquency, and team sport participation and aggressive behaviour . Conclusions-This study did not support the deterrence hypothesis and showed that high involvement in sporting activity, but not team sport , was associated with a subsequent increase in delinquent behaviour.