Relationship with Adults in Organized Sports and Non-Sports Activities and Links with Psychological Adjustment in Adolescence: A 6-Year Longitudinal Study

Relationships with adults in organized activities play a crucial role in the positive outcomes associated with these experiences, yet little is known about how these relationships evolve throughout adolescence or how they are differentially associated with mental health. Important distinctions could also be made regarding activity types. The sample consisted of 292 participants (58% female; M age = 12.5; SD = 0.48), primarily White, middle-class, French-Canadian adolescents. Participants reported annually on their relationships with adults from ages 14 to 17. They also provided information on their levels of depressive symptoms and self-esteem at ages 13, 17, and 18. Results showed that parental involvement and support from the activity leader significantly decreased over time during adolescence. Additionally, parental involvement appears to be higher over time in team sports than in non-sport activities, but no differences were found regarding support from the activity leader. Finally, parental involvement and leader support were both linked to lower depressive symptoms and higher self-esteem. These findings highlight the critical yet diminishing role of adults in organized activities as adolescents age, underscoring the need for sustained adult engagement to promote positive mental health outcomes in this developmental period.