THE EFFECTS OF SPORTS PARTICIPATION ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, QUALITY OF LIFE AND SELF-ESTEEM AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN KOSOVO

From the literature we find numerous studies that have analyzed the impact of sport activities on school success. The findings are generally inconsistent. Some studies find weak, moderate correlations, or no impact at all. The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between participating in sport activities with quality of life, self-esteem and school success among youth in Kosovo. It is a quantitative cross-sectional study. The participants were 126 respondents, aged 14-19 years (Mage = 16.75, SD =.88) recruited online, from two high schools of Pristina. Participants completed Global Quality of Life Scale and Rosenberg Self-esteem scale as well as questions related to their sports activities and self-reported average of school grades. 34.9% participants declared that several times a week and 18.3% every day perform sports activities; while 36.5% spend an average of 3 hours or more per week in these sports activities. Companionship and health benefits are the main motivators of involvement in sports activities. Young people believe that sports activities have a positive effect on physical health, mental health and general well-being. A significant negative correlation was found between the hours spent in sports activities and success (r =- .217; p = .020), but there was no significant correlation with the quality of life and self-esteem. A significant positive correlation was found between the frequency of sports activities and quality of life (r = .235; p = .011), but there is no significant correlation with success and self-esteem. Other studies more focused on this issue can shed more light on these reports, especially on the possibility of interaction of other factors related to school success.