A recently published paper from CSPPA 2022 data on different nationalities was published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport.
The study explores differences in physical activity, sport participation, and related health behaviours across nationalities from CSPPA 2022 data. The findings revealed that adolescents from non-Irish nationalities were generally less likely to participate in school sport, community sport, inter-school competition representation, and levels of physical activity compared with their Irish peers. The differences were particularly evident among some nationality groups, including Eastern European and East Asian adolescents.
While participation in sports commonly delivered through physical education, such as basketball and athletics, was broadly similar across nationality groups, involvement in traditional Irish sports, including Gaelic football, hurling and camogie, was substantially lower among non-Irish adolescents. These findings suggest that schools may play an important role in creating inclusive opportunities for participation, whereas community sport organisations may need to consider additional strategies to engage young people from diverse backgrounds.
As Ireland becomes increasingly diverse, the study provides an important baseline for monitoring progress in sport inclusion and participation. The findings offer valuable evidence for policymakers, sporting organisations, schools, and community clubs seeking to ensure that all young people have equal opportunities to experience the health, social, and cultural benefits of physical activity and sport.
The paper has been published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport and is available to read here:
https://www.jsams.org/article/S1440-2440(26)00234-3/fulltext