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Sustainable Elite Youth Sports: A Systematic Scoping Review of the Social Dimensions
Univ Gothenburg, Sweden; German Sport Univ Cologne, Germany.
Univ Gothenburg, Sweden.
Univ Gothenburg, Sweden.
Univ Gothenburg, Sweden; German Sport Univ Cologne, Germany.
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2025 (English)In: Sustainable Development, ISSN 0968-0802, E-ISSN 1099-1719, Vol. 33, no 5, p. 7575-7590Article, review/survey (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Sports have been identified as an important contributor to social sustainability, and the benefits for health, well-being, and social learning in young people are well evidenced. Youth elite sports, however, have been criticized as being unsustainable. Following calls for a more socially sustainable development of youth elite sports, research on the topic has increased. However, studies vary in disciplinary origin, concepts, content, and methodology. The aim of this systematic scoping review is to identify and synthesize the current disciplinary research knowledge. Five disciplinary databases were searched. Based on six eligibility criteria and a double-blind review process, a total of 99 articles were selected. Findings were first charted in tables and then examined using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Key findings are that there is a lack of conceptual clarity regarding social sustainability, and that the field of study is multidisciplinary with distinct thematic research areas (athlete development, athlete health and well-being, athlete development environment). Most research focuses on athlete-related micro aspects and less on organizational and societal dimensions. Inequity issues were found regarding social diversity, including an overrepresentation of soccer and men's sports. Furthermore, mostly quantitative methodologies are used. A theoretically based and empirically tested understanding of social sustainability is needed as well as research addressing aspects of holistic youth development. Attention should be paid to contextual and macro-level influences. Knowledge about preventive programs and practices that advance social sustainability in youth elite sports is necessary. Organizational conditions and funding programs should be created to increase trans- or multidisciplinary research.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
WILEY , 2025. Vol. 33, no 5, p. 7575-7590
Keywords [en]
elite youth sports; multidisciplinary; social sustainability; sustainable development and SDGs; systematic review
National Category
Sport and Fitness Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-214193DOI: 10.1002/sd.3526ISI: 001497223700001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105006585756OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-214193DiVA, id: diva2:1963054
Available from: 2025-06-02 Created: 2025-06-02 Last updated: 2026-02-17Bibliographically approved

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Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
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  • vancouver
  • oxford
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
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  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
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