Organized Sport Participation and Stress-Related Motivation for Physical Activity among Chilean Children and Adolescents: A National Cross-Sectional Study

Aim: To examine the association between participation in organized sport and stress-related motivation for physical activity among Chilean children and adolescents aged 5–17 years, using nationally representative data. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 4,150 participants in the 2024 National Physical Activity and Sport Survey. Organized sport participation was defined as engagement in school-based or extracurricular sport activities (yes/no). Stress-related motivation for physical activity was assessed by self-report (yes/no). Multivariable logistic regression models estimated odds ratios adjusted for sex, age group, socioeconomic status, and area of residence. Sensitivity analyses evaluated robustness under alternative outcome coding’s. Results: Overall, 59.9% of participants reported engagement in organized sport, with higher participation observed in urban areas and higher socioeconomic groups. Stress-related motivation was reported by 39.4% of non-participants compared with 23.8% of organized sport participants. Participation in organized sport was associated with significantly lower odds of endorsing stress-related motivation (OR = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.44–0.60; p < 0.001), independent of sociodemographic factors. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the consistency of this association (OR range: 0.51–0.65). Conclusion: Participation in organized sport was inversely associated with endorsing stress relief as a primary motivation for physical activity. Rather than contradicting the mental health value of sport, this pattern suggests that organized sport may operate through alternative psychosocial pathways, such as social integration and competence development. These findings highlight the importance of addressing access disparities and integrating mental health–promoting components within youth sport programs.