Widening inequalities in sport participation among Italian children, 1997–2022: an observational study

Aim: This study examines trends in children’s sports participation in Italy from 1997 to 2022, focusing on socioeconomic and gender disparities and their evolution amidst economic and societal disruptions. Subject and methods: Data from the Multipurpose Survey of Daily Life conducted by ISTAT (1997–2022), including 134,348 respondents aged 6–17, were analysed. A multinomial logistic regression model was employed to investigate trends in sports participation, emphasizing parental education, gender, and their interaction over time. Results: The findings reveal widening socioeconomic disparities in sports engagement. From 1997 to 2019, regular participation rose among children with tertiary-educated parents (71.9%, 95% CI 69.2–74.6 to 79.5%, 95% CI 77.3–81.7) but stagnated for those from less-educated backgrounds (52.5%, 95% CI 51.0–54.0 to 51.7%, 95% CI 48.8–54.7). Between 2010 and 2013, participation dropped 7.4 percentage points for disadvantaged children (58.6%, 95% CI 56.5–60.6 to 51.2%, 95% CI 47.6–54.8), with no recovery, while those of tertiary-educated parents rebounded by 2015. The COVID- 19 pandemic caused a 15-point drop, from 79.5% (95% CI 77.3–81.7) to 65.1% (95% CI 62.7–67.5) for advantaged children and from 51.7% (95% CI 48.8–54.7) to 38.1% (95% CI 34.9.8–41.3) for disadvantaged ones. Gender disparities worsened: disadvantaged girls’ participation fell 12.4 points more than boys’ during the Debt Crisis (51.8%, 95% CI 49.4–54.2 to 39.4%, 95% CI 36.4–42.4), and during COVID- 19, they saw a 37% drop (45.6%, 95% CI 42.2–49.0 to 28.7%, 95% CI 25.7–31.7). Gender disparities worsened: disadvantaged girls experienced a 23% drop in sports participation during the Debt Crisis, compared to a 5% drop for disadvantaged boys. Similarly, during COVID- 19, sports participation among girls from less-educated backgrounds declined by 37%, compared to a 19% reduction for boys from similar backgrounds. Conclusion: Socioeconomic and gender inequalities in children’s sports participation have intensified over the study period. Economic shocks exacerbate these disparities, posing long-term risks to health equity. Targeted policies are essential to promote universal access to sports, particularly for socioeconomically disadvantaged and female children. These measures could mitigate disparities and enhance physical, psychological, and social well-being among vulnerable groups.