Relationship between Sports Event Participation and Mitigation of Deviant Behavior among School-Going Teenagers

Adolescent deviant behaviors, including truancy, substance abuse, and vandalism, pose significant challenges to educators and policymakers, often disrupting academic environments and community cohesion. Research suggests that structured sports programs can positively influence youth behavior by fostering self-discipline, teamwork, and social inclusion. However, limited studies have explored this relationship specifically in school-going teenagers. The purpose of this study was to investigate how involvement in sports events can help to reduce aberrant behavior among teens in schools. 37 school-going youngsters between the ages of 13 and 18 were included into an experimental design. Participants in a planned sports program meant to encourage good behavior were underlined. Self-reported questionnaires given both before and following the intervention helped to gather data. Analysis of behavior using paired t-tests and effect size computations. With a p < 0.05, effect size = 0.78, the findings showed a notable drop in deviant behaviors following intervention. Along with these changes in self-discipline, respect, and teamwork, participants noted. The study emphasizes the need of including sports-based programs into classroom instruction as a way to solve behavioral problems and promote whole development. These findings provide practical implications for educators, policymakers, and community leaders aiming to cultivate positive youth behaviors through structured sports participation.