Assessing the association between sport participation and suicide ideation and behaviors among middle and high school students in the U.S. between 2007 and 2023

Purpose: To assess the association between sports participation and suicide ideation/behaviors among both middle and high school students across several national cohorts of adolescents in the U.S. (i.e., 2007–2013, 2015–2019, 2021 and 2023). Methods: Data from the 2007–2023 biennial state Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) for both middle (n = 326,085) and high schools (n = 508,737) were used to analyze the association between suicide ideation/suicide behaviors and past-year sports participation. Results: Participation in sports dropped for both middle and high school students between 2007 and 2021, while the percent of both middle and high school students who seriously considered attempting suicide, developed a suicide plan and attempted suicide increased between 2007 and 2023. Multivariable models found that the rates of seriously considering attempting suicide (range: aRR=.71 to.81, p < .001), developing a suicide plan (range: aRR=.72 to.80, p < .001) and attempting suicide (range: aRR=.75 to.87, p < .001) were lower for middle and high school students who participated in either one sport or two or more sports when compared to their peers who do not participate in these activities. Conclusion: Participation in sports lowered the risk of suicide ideation/behaviors for both middle and high school students in the U.S. The findings suggest that engaging in sports, particularly multiple sports, serves as an intervention strategy for reducing suicide risks in this population.