Study

Physical Health and Wellness in Teens

In this study, we want to learn about the effects of physical activity on the health of teenagers. We will compare the physical, mental, and emotional health of teens who take part in physical activities with those who do not during a fall semester (10–14 weeks).

Why this Research Matters

This study will help us learn about the benefits and risks of playing sports in high school. We also want to better understand why some people stop playing sports during this time. Because less sports medicine research has involved females, our study will also help us learn more about how playing sports affects high school females.

What to Expect

In this study, you can participate online or in person. Before you start, you and a parent/guardian will join a Zoom meeting to learn about the study and give consent. If you choose the online group, you will fill out a set of surveys before and after the fall sport season, plus 10 short weekly surveys during the season. The surveys will ask about your daily habits and your physical and mental health. If you choose the in-person group, you will fill out the same surveys and come to two physical testing sessions (one in August and one in November). During these sessions, you will do fitness tests such as squats, planks, walking, and reaction time tests. If you are female, you will also have the choice to wear an Oura Ring during the fall sports season to help measure sleep and menstrual health. If you want to join this study, click the link at the bottom of this page. You also can click the “Get Started Now” button, and an eligibility survey will appear after you fill out the brief webform.