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Youth sport is associated with healthy environments (Pate, Trost, Levin, & Dowda, 2000) and is related to greater sport participation (Perkins, Jacobs, Barber, & Eccles, 2004), higher physical activity levels, and better subjective health as a young adult (Dodge & Lambert, 2009). However, youth sport specialization is associated with limited motor (Branta, 2010) and social development (Coakley, 2009), injury (Kaleth & Mikesky, 2010), and anxiety (Gould, 2010) which may undermine healthy development (NASPE, 2010) and may decrease future sport and physical activity participation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine if young adults' sport and physical activity patterns and perceptions were related to perceptions of their youth sport experience, including sport specialization. Participants (n=153; n= 71 males, 82 females; M age =19.80) completed surveys asking about their youth sport perceptions and the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (Kendzierski & DeCarlo, 1991). Physical activity enjoyment and youth sport perceptions were unrelated to participants' youth sport specialization status. In addition, current exercise habits were not related to whether participants specialized in a single youth sport. However, sport participation patterns did differ according to specialization status (X^sup 2^ (2) =8.77, p<.05), indicating young adults who specialized as youth were less likely to participate in sports. Physical activity enjoyment was predicted by positive perceptions about one's youth sport experience, regardless of specialization status. Since specialization is linked to lack of perceived autonomy, burnout, and dropout, youth may develop resentment toward sports, lowering participation motivation. Early sport specialization may be related to lower sport participation in young adulthood.
Youth sport participation in the United States is associated with numerous positive health behaviors (Pate, Trost, Levin, & Dowda, 2000). This environment provides prosocial characteristics that promote positive values, such as fair play, competitiveness, and achievement (Pate et al., 2000), and has been linked to high levels of enjoyment (Scanlan, 1989). Because so many children are involved, youth sport is thought to be a significant developmental experience (Fraser-Thomas, Cote, & Deakin, 2005). The psychological and social benefits of regular physical activity through youth sport may help children cope with stress, counterbalance sedentary lifestyles, foster positive relationships and protect against youth delinquency (Pate et al., 2000; Washington et al., 2001; World Health Organization, 1998). Sports participation during childhood is consistently associated...