Physical Activity, Sport Participation, and Suicidal Behavior: U.S. High School Students

The associations of physical activity & sports team participation with suicidal behaviour among American high school students were evaluated. Data were from the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Compared with inactive students or sports team nonparticipants, the odds of suicide ideation were lower among boys reporting frequent vigorous-intensity physical activity & sports team participation. The odds of suicide attempts were also lower among frequently vigorously active boys & sports team participants. The odds of suicide attempts were lower for regularly vigorously active girls compared with inactive girls & sports team participants compared with nonparticipants. (35 refs.)