BackgroundIt is well known that sports participation is positively associated with psychosocial health in children, but details about this association over time are lacking. This study aimed to explore longitudinal associations between several characteristics of sports participation and three aspects of psychosocial health (internalizing problems, externalizing problems and prosocial behaviour) in Dutch children aged 10–12 years.MethodsData from 695 fourth-grade primary school children were included at baseline; 10–13 months later, 487 children (response rate 70.1%) were retained. At both time points, children reported on their sports participation (Move and Sports Monitor Questionnaire – Youth Aged 8–12 Years) and psychosocial health (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire). Longitudinal associations between several characteristics of sports participation and the three aspects of psychosocial health were analysed using linear mixed models, both clustering the repeated measures within children and clustering the children within schools. In addition to crude analyses, analyses were performed adjusting for sex, age, BMI, household composition, SES and frequency of sports participation.ResultsMembership in a sports club, moderate or high frequency of sports participation, performing team sports, performing outdoor sports, performing contact sports and involvement in competition were longitudinally associated with fewer internalizing problems. The longitudinal association of higher frequency of sports participation with fewer internalizing problems was stronger as a child’s BMI increased. The association of performing team sports with fewer internalizing problems was only observed for boys. Membership in a sports club and moderate or high frequency of sports participation were also longitudinally associated with better prosocial behaviour. These associations with prosocial behaviour were stronger for girls. None of the characteristics of sports participation examined were longitudinally associated with externalizing problems.ConclusionsThis study shows that from a longitudinal perspective, fewer internalizing problems and better prosocial behaviour were seen in children who were active in sports. Fewer internalizing problems were also associated with the kind of sports participation; for example, with performing outdoor sports. No associations were found for externalizing problems. Future research should preferably take the form of an intervention to investigate whether the observed statistical associations are of a causal nature.

Purpose In this study, longitudinal associations between sports participation and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were explored. Sports participation was operationalized as membership of a sports club, frequency of sports participation, performing individual versus team sports and performing indoor versus outdoor sports. The concept of HRQoL referred to the self-perceived enjoyment and satisfaction with one’s personal health situation. Methods Data from 618 fourth-grade primary school children were included at baseline; 10–13 months later, 417 children (response rate 67.5%) were retained. At both time points, children reported on sports participation (Move and Sports Monitor Questionnaire—youth aged 8–12 years) and health-related quality of life (KIDSCREEN-52). Because of the clustering of children in schools, data were analysed using linear mixed models. Analyses were adjusted for sex, age, BMI, household composition, SES and frequency of sports participation. Results The questionnaires were fully completed by 417 children. High sports-active children showed better scores on almost all dimensions of HRQoL than moderate [difference ( B ) = − 1.82 ( p = 0.05) to − 1.51 ( p = 0.05)] or low ports-active children [difference ( B ) = − 3.67 ( p < 0.001) to − 1.95 ( p = 0.03)] and non-sports club members [difference ( B ) = − 5.58 ( p < 0.001) to – 2.65 ( p = 0.02)]. Unlike frequency, the other examined characteristics of sports participation were only to a limited extent longitudinal associated with HRQoL. Conclusion As frequency is more relevant than the form of sports participation, children should be encouraged to perform any kind of sports activity on a very regular base. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s11136-019-02219-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.