Study: Immigrant children less likely to engage in sport

Children of immigrants are less likely than their Irish counterparts to participate in sport and cultural activities, with a new study indicating that the distinctive nature of gaelic games may be among the factors.

Analysis of two waves of the Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) longitudinal study looked at the levels of participation in out-of-school social activities among immigrant-origin children living in Ireland, and found generally lower levels of involvement at both ages nine and 13, although the gap narrows between those two ages.

Using the GUI study, information on an initial 8,568 children was analysed, including input from primary caregivers regarding their children’s levels of participation.