Navigating transitions: Youth Leisure and Sports Participation in Norway

Abstract

By positioning sports participation within the larger context of youth as a life-stage, this research aimed to explore the intersections of sport with educational transitions, leisure, and social life. Central to this investigation was the examination of Norwegian youths’ sporting careers, aiming to uncover the sequential development of their sporting repertoires. Such an exploration highlights the potential for laying the foundations for sustained sports participation throughout the life course. Moreover, by conceptualizing sports participation as sporting careers, this research aligns with the understanding of youth as a pivotal transitional period between childhood and adulthood. Utilizing a mixed methods approach, the dissertation extended a longitudinal cohort study, combining longitudinal data from 599 young Norwegians aged 13-16 with 41 in-depth interviews conducted with the same individuals at ages 17-18. This sequential mixed methods design illuminated continuity alongside change in sports participation during youth, providing a detailed examination of the roles that social life, leisure more broadly, and educational transitions play in shaping sporting careers. The findings demonstrated that while navigating the demands of academic and social life, the young Norwegians maintained a high level of sports engagement. The observed mutability in participation forms, including a shift from structured, formal sports to a broader, more individualised mix that included informal sports was a key element in the expansion and diversification of their sporting repertoires, serving as an important factor in sustaining their high levels of sports engagement throughout youth. The intertwined influences of family cultures of sports, peer dynamics, and an emerging sense of agency were identified as significant processes in the construction of their sporting careers. Furthermore, the study shed light on the tendency among youth to adopt lifestyles that integrated active leisure, education, and social life, reflecting a seemingly normative model. This research underscores the significance of conceptualizing sports participation through the lens of sporting careers, offering valuable insights into sustaining sports engagement amidst the challenges of youth. It demonstrates the need for flexible strategies that aligns with the developmental trajectory of youth as a transitional life stage.