Title: The athletes high? Does physical activity or sport participation prevent substance use?
Supervisory Committee: Dr. Guy Faulkner (Research Supervisor), Dr. Eli Puterman, Dr. Robinder Bedi, Dr. Scott Leatherdale
University Examiners: Dr. Emily Jenkins, Dr. Martin Guhn
External Examiner: Dr. Mats Hallgren
Chair: Dr. Kay Teschke
Abstract:
A particular period of experimentation and a time in which substance use behaviours might be first adopted is adolescence. The purpose of my dissertation was, first, to examine if physical activity prevents substance use behaviour among youth; and second, to assess if school connectedness plays a role in this association. In study 1, a scoping review was conducted to examine the prospective associations between physical activity and substance use. Based on the findings from the scoping review, the second study utilized a cross-sectional design to examine physical activity (meeting MVPA guidelines; non-competitive or competitive school sport; outside-of-school sport) and associations with four current substance use behaviours (cigarette, e-cigarette, cannabis, binge drinking). Study 2 also tested if school connectedness moderated these associations. Finally, study 3 examined if changes in physical activity may be associated with the initiation of current substance use while evaluating the potential moderation and mediation of school connectedness. Studies 2 (n=59792) and 3 (n=3244) utilized a combined three years of the COMPASS study (Y:6 2017-2018, Y:7 2018-2018, Y:8 2019-2020). Within studies 2 and 3 multi-level logistic regressions were built with different predictors and outcomes to reflect the longitudinal nature of study 3. While results demonstrate evidence for cross-sectional and prospective associations between physical activity and substance use, not all associations were negative. Additionally, less evidence was found prospectively (study 3) than cross-sectionally (study 2) for the associations between physical activity and substance use. Study 2 provided evidence for school connectedness moderating the cross-sectional association between physical activity and substance use. Study 3 found evidence for school connectedness negatively mediating the association between two distinct types of sport participation (outside-of-school and competitive school sport) and current substance use (e-cigarette use and cannabis use). Overall, there was no evidence that physical activity confers broad, universal benefits in preventing substance use among youth. Sport participation may provide a contextual experience that enhances school connectedness which in turn is associated with substance use prevention. Future work should be considered to confirm this possibility.