Sports Participation in Youth Holds Long-Term Benefits for Women

Research has indicated that sports participation promotes positive behaviors in girls. But are there long-term benefits that continue once the jerseys have been retired? According to a study developed by the National Board of Economic Research, the answer is yes. “Analysis of differences in outcomes across states in changes
between pre- and post-cohorts reveals that
a 10 percentage point rise in state-level female sports participation generates a 1 percentage point increase in female college attendance and a 1 to 2 percentage point rise in female labor force participation,” writes researcher Betsey Stevenson. “Furthermore, greater opportunities to play sports lead to greater female participation in previously male-dominated occupations, particularly in high-skill occupations.”