Socioeconomic disparities in organized sports participation and physical activity among a population based sample of preschool children: a cross-sectional study

Charlotte Wilén; Viktor H Ahlqvist; Chu Chen; Martin Neovius; Cecilia Magnusson; Pontus Henriksson; Micael Dahlén; Erik Sander; Daniel Berglind

doi:10.1186/s12887-025-05651-3

Socioeconomic disparities in organized sports participation and physical activity among a population based sample of preschool children: a cross-sectional study

Charlotte Wilén, Viktor H Ahlqvist, Chu Chen, Martin Neovius, Cecilia Magnusson, Pontus Henriksson, Micael Dahlén, Erik Sander, Daniel Berglind

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

• This study found that participation in organized sports is associated with a modestly higher level of physical activity among preschool-aged children living in Stockholm. However, 56.5% of the children did not participate in any organized sports. • Further, we found that participation in organized sports differs depending on socioeconomic status, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions to reduce these differences.

Original language	English
Article number	298
Journal	BMC Pediatrics
Volume	25
Issue	1
Pages (from-to)	298
ISSN	1471-2431
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05651-3
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Accelerometry
Child
Child, Preschool
Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise
Female
Humans
Male
Social Class
Socioeconomic Disparities in Health
Socioeconomic Factors
Sports/statistics & numerical data
Sweden
Socioeconomic status
Physical activity
Preschool
Organized sports
Accelerometer
Children

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10.1186/s12887-025-05651-3

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Wilén, C., Ahlqvist, V. H., Chen, C., Neovius, M., Magnusson, C., Henriksson, P., Dahlén, M., Sander, E., & Berglind, D. (2025). Socioeconomic disparities in organized sports participation and physical activity among a population based sample of preschool children: a cross-sectional study. BMC Pediatrics, 25(1), 298. Article 298. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05651-3

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title = "Socioeconomic disparities in organized sports participation and physical activity among a population based sample of preschool children: a cross-sectional study",

abstract = "• This study found that participation in organized sports is associated with a modestly higher level of physical activity among preschool-aged children living in Stockholm. However, 56.5% of the children did not participate in any organized sports. • Further, we found that participation in organized sports differs depending on socioeconomic status, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions to reduce these differences.",

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author = "Charlotte Wil{\'e}n and Ahlqvist, {Viktor H} and Chu Chen and Martin Neovius and Cecilia Magnusson and Pontus Henriksson and Micael Dahl{\'e}n and Erik Sander and Daniel Berglind",

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doi = "10.1186/s12887-025-05651-3",

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Socioeconomic disparities in organized sports participation and physical activity among a population based sample of preschool children: a cross-sectional study. / Wilén, Charlotte; Ahlqvist, Viktor H; Chen, Chu et al.
In: BMC Pediatrics, Vol. 25, No. 1, 298, 12.2025, p. 298.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Socioeconomic disparities in organized sports participation and physical activity among a population based sample of preschool children

T2 - a cross-sectional study

AU - Wilén, Charlotte

AU - Ahlqvist, Viktor H

AU - Chen, Chu

AU - Neovius, Martin

AU - Magnusson, Cecilia

AU - Henriksson, Pontus

AU - Dahlén, Micael

AU - Sander, Erik

AU - Berglind, Daniel

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - • This study found that participation in organized sports is associated with a modestly higher level of physical activity among preschool-aged children living in Stockholm. However, 56.5% of the children did not participate in any organized sports. • Further, we found that participation in organized sports differs depending on socioeconomic status, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions to reduce these differences.

AB - • This study found that participation in organized sports is associated with a modestly higher level of physical activity among preschool-aged children living in Stockholm. However, 56.5% of the children did not participate in any organized sports. • Further, we found that participation in organized sports differs depending on socioeconomic status, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions to reduce these differences.

KW - Accelerometry

KW - Child

KW - Child, Preschool

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Exercise

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Social Class

KW - Socioeconomic Disparities in Health

KW - Socioeconomic Factors

KW - Sports/statistics & numerical data

KW - Sweden

KW - Socioeconomic status

KW - Physical activity

KW - Preschool

KW - Organized sports

KW - Accelerometer

KW - Children

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U2 - 10.1186/s12887-025-05651-3

DO - 10.1186/s12887-025-05651-3

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 40241004

SN - 1471-2431

VL - 25

SP - 298

JO - BMC Pediatrics

JF - BMC Pediatrics

IS - 1

M1 - 298

ER -

Socioeconomic disparities in organized sports participation and physical activity among a population based sample of preschool children: a cross-sectional study

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Keywords

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