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teenage girls are leaving sports because of body image

from concerns about body image to lack of paternal support, researchers uncover some pervasive reasons girls leave sports.

by maija kappler

published mar 09, 2022

last updated mar 10, 2022

3 minute read

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3 minute read

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body image is a major reason teenage girls stop playing sports

four in ten teen girls surveyed describe themselves as "sporty," compared to six in ten boys. getty

it’s not a coincidence that so many girls leave sports in their teens, according to a new study. the reasons for this athletic exodus are complex, but self-esteem and body image play a significant role. the survey, by u.k. group women in sport, found that, of the 4,000 teens aged 11 to 18 who responded, 43 per cent of girls who used to consider themselves “sporty” stopped playing sports once they became — the equivalent of more than one million teenage girls across the u.k.

four in ten teen girls surveyed describe themselves as “sporty,” compared to six in ten boys. but while 24 per cent of boys say they “used to be sporty,” that number is almost double in girls: 43 per cent of girls say they used to like sports but they “fell out of love” with it as teenagers.

“worryingly, girls lose their love of sport and exercise during teenage years, and this presents a significant psychological barrier throughout life,” the survey authors state. “this generation of teenage girls are experiencing worrying mental health issues and report being less confident, less happy and increasingly concerned with their appearance. the pandemic has amplified these issues for many girls. when teenage girls are active, they are healthier and happier, and have greater self-esteem, body confidence and well-being.”

girls stopped playing sports for fear of being judged

the number of girls involved in sports dropped around ages 12 or 13, according to the study, with another significant drop at 17 or 18. and while boys and girls both understand the benefits of sports and other physical activity, girls are more likely to say they find motivation difficult and that they don’t enjoy sports anymore.

while close to half of the girls surveyed (47 per cent) said they stopped playing sports because they were busy with school work, 61 per cent cited a lack of confidence as one of the reasons for their withdrawal, and a worrying 68 per cent said they left sports for fear of being judged — both because of their body as well as their performance.

almost half of girls (45 per cent) felt they didn’t have “the right body shape” to play sports, compared to 35 per cent of boys: “my school has a lot of unisex clothes, by unisex, they’re made for boys,” one girl said. “when you are in puberty and have wider hips it doesn’t fit right.” and when it came to performance, while 44 per cent of boys said they didn’t like people watching them, that number rose to 65 per cent for girls. menstruation also factored in on likelihood of sports participation: a whopping 78 per cent of girls said they opted out because of their period, citing pain, fatigue, lowered self-confidence and fear of leakage.

fathers could be ‘powerful support’ for girls

while 48 per cent of both boys and girls said their mothers encouraged them to be active and play sports, just half of boys said the same of their dads — and only 31 per cent of girls said they felt supported in sports by their fathers.

“fathers [or] father figures could be a powerful source of support for girls,” the study says. “we know when dads support their daughters, they are more likely to be sporty.” in fact, a small-scale 2012 study found that “paternal influence” was a bigger factor in girls’ decisions to pursue sports than their mom’s influence.

one way to help girls enjoy sports more would be eliminate at least some of the competitiveness, the study authors say. girls should feel “they deserve opportunities to play even if [they’re] not top tier.” encouragement from parents, particularly dads, could help. and providing practical and emotional support could help girls “stay active during puberty and reinforce body confidence.”

women in sport provides more resources on how to get girls into sports on its website.

maija kappler is a reporter and editor at healthing. you can reach her at mkappler@postmedia.com

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