Socioeconomic Status and Parent Perceptions About the Costs and Benefits of Youth Sport

Parents prioritize fun and fitness in sport, and were concerned about injury and the impact of sport on academics. Lower income parents are the most likely to view keeping their child out of trouble, and the potential for a college athletics scholarship, as benefits of sport. While all parents should be appropriately informed about the potential costs and benefits they are weighting in their sports-related decision making, structural change is needed to address income-related concerns about sport participation.