Young adolescents, especially boys, who participated in organized sports between ages 6 and 10 are less likely to defy their parents, teachers and other authority figures, a new study by researchers in Canada and Italy suggests.
"Oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD) is often under-diagnosed and can co-occur with other developmental disorders," said the study's lead author Matteo Privitera, a doctoral student at the University of Pavia (UofP), supervised by Linda Pagani, a professor at Université de Montréal's School of Psycho-Education.
"Symptoms of the disorder include persistent patterns of irritability, defiance and hostility toward authority figures," he said. "The disorder is over-represented by boys and often accompanies other neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD and learning disabilities."
Importantly, "these behaviours can interfere with learning, relationships and long-term mental health," he added. "In our study, we wanted to look into the symptoms and try to identify accessible, community-based strategies that foster more adaptive behaviour in children."
Privitera and his research team examined data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, a population-based cohort of children born in 1997 or 1998 whose data is curated by the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
The study focused on 1,492 boys and girls who participated in organized extracurricular sports between ages 6 and 10. At ages 10 and 12, the same children self-reported on symptoms of oppositional-defiant behaviour.
Those sports included any supervised by an adult (coach or instructor), structured according to established rules, practised in a group and involving a competitive element. Factors such as family income, maternal education and the child's behavioral profiles were considered and their influence was accounted for in the analyses.
Fewer symptoms in boys
"Boys who consistently participated in organized sport showed significantly fewer subsequent oppositional-defiant symptoms at both ages compared to boys with low or inconsistent participation," said Privitera. "Sport may serve as a natural and influential context for learning self-regulation, cooperation and respect for rules."
The research team, which included fellow UdeM doctoral candidate Kianoush Harandian and UofP professors Luca Correale and Laura Fusar-Poli, used conservative longitudinal statistical procedures to estimate prospective associations, while adjusting for early childhood behavioural symptoms and family background.
No significant associations between sport and ODD were found for girls. This was not surprising given that boys generally show more oppositional behavior in middle childhood, the researchers said.
"Our findings support the idea that structured extracurricular activities can promote behavioural resilience," said Harandian. "Sport offers a supervised and socially engaging environment that may help boys internalize adaptive behavioural norms."
The study has implications for public-health and education policies, Pagani added.
"Encouraging sustained sport participation in middle childhood may reduce the burden of disruptive behaviour disorders and support long-term well-being," she said. "It's a simple, actionable strategy with benefits for families, schools and communities."
About this study
"Game changer: how middle childhood sport predicts reduced oppositional-defiant behavior by early adolescence," by Matteo Privitera, Linda Pagani et al., was published Dec. 9, 2025 in European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Matteo Privitera, lead author of the study, is affiliated with the Department of Public Health, Experimental Medicine and Forensic Sciences and the Human Locomotion Lab at the University of Pavia. Co-authors include Kianoush Harandian (École de Psychoéducation, Université de Montréal), Luca Correale (Public Health, Experimental Medicine and Forensic Sciences, University of Pavia), Laura Fusar-Poli (Psychiatry, University of Pavia), and Linda S. Pagani (École de Psychoéducation, Université de Montréal).
About Université de Montréal
Deeply rooted in Montreal and dedicated to its international mission, Université de Montréal ranks among the top universities worldwide. With its affiliated schools, Polytechnique Montréal and HEC Montréal, UdeM attracts over $700 million in research funding every year, making it one of the top three university research hubs in Canada. UdeM has more than 69,000 students, 2,300 professors and researchers, and an active global network of 450,000 alumni.
About University of Pavia
Founded in 1361, the University of Pavia (Università degli Studi di Pavia) is one of the oldest universities in Europe. With a strong tradition of excellence in research and teaching, it offers 85-degree programs across 18 departments and hosts a vibrant international academic community. The university has been home to renowned scholars such as Alessandro Volta and Camillo Golgi and continues to foster innovation through interdisciplinary collaboration and global partnerships. Located in the historic city of Pavia, it ranks among Italy's top institutions for internationalization and research impact.
