AUTHOR=Sui Wenjie , Huang Miaohong 

TITLE=A study on the influence of family social capital on participation in adolescent extracurricular sports and public health

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1515522

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2025.1515522

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=IntroductionWith increasing academic pressure, extracurricular tutoring and interest classes are growing rapidly. This trend is especially evident in youth sports interest classes. Families allocate limited resources to these activities, directly influencing their social capital. This study examines how family social capital affects adolescent participation in extracurricular sports and its broader implications for public health.MethodsThis study uses longitudinal data from the China Family Tracking Survey (CFPS, 2010–2018, N = 12,750) to analyze the relationship between family social capital, extracurricular sports participation, and adolescent health outcomes. A Backpropagation (BP) neural network model was applied to assess the predictive power of family social capital on sports engagement. Public health indicators, such as obesity, anxiety, and depression rates, were also evaluated. Regional disparities were examined to highlight differences between urban and rural areas.ResultsAdolescents from high-social-capital families had significantly higher sports participation (85%) than those from low-social-capital families (25%). They also had lower obesity rates (10% vs. 30%) and reduced anxiety and depression by 25% and 20%, respectively. Parental engagement increased the likelihood of sports participation by 15%, and educational resources positively impacted adolescent wellbeing. Regional disparities were evident, with urban adolescents participating at 70%, compared to 40% in rural areas.DiscussionThe findings show that higher family social capital improves adolescents' physical and mental health. It helps reduce public health risks such as obesity, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, it increases the participation of young people in various physical activities. This study emphasizes the need to improve family social capital and address regional inequalities. These efforts can promote public health and provide equitable access to extracurricular opportunities.