Since 2011, the MATCH study has been following nearly 1,000 young people. At the start of the study, they were between 10 and 12 years old, and today these participants are adults. By periodically answering questionnaires, they help us better understand how health-related behaviors change during key stages of life.

Team

Principal Investigator: Mathieu Bélanger

Co-Investigators: Jennifer Brunet, Isabelle Doré, François Gallant, Katie Gunnell, Jennifer O’Loughlin, Catherine Sabiston et Marie-Pierre Sylvestre

Coordinator: Julie Dufresne

Database Manager: Jeffrey Gaudet

Students (past and present) : Jean-Sébastien Chevarie, Sara DeGrâce, Yanis Saheb, Maryse Gagnon, Emilie Beaulieu,  Marie-Claude Lavigne-Albert, Marie-Andrée Giroux, Anika Boucher, Katarina Laevski, Sarah-Maude Boucher, Pascale Plourde Roussel et Valerie Dery (MD-Sherbrooke), Julie Goguen (MSc-Sherbrooke), Jason MacKenzie (MSc-Sherbrooke), Erin Wing (MSc-Ottawa), Stéphanie Ward (MSc-Sherbrooke), François Gallant (MSc-Sherbrooke), Teodora Riglea (MSc-Montréal), Marie-Ève Michaud (MSc-Sherbrooke), Jean-François Clément (MSc-Sherbrooke), Chloé Drapeau (MSc-Montréal), Kristy Smith (PhD-Windsor), Véronique Thibault (PhD-Sherbrooke), François Gallant (PhD-Sherbrooke), Pierre Philippe Wilson Registe (PhD-Sherbrooke), Salma Jemaa (PhD-Sherbrooke)

Postdoctoral Researcher (past and present): Katie Gunnell (Ottawa), Patrick Abi Nader (Sherbrooke), Isabelle Doré (Toronto), Jodie Stearns (Ottawa), Radhouene Doggui (Sherbrooke), Ross Murray (Toronto), Corentin Montiel (Montréal), Lars Lenze (Bern), Charles-Etienne White-Gosselin (Montréal)

The study’s data has led to several discoveries on various topics. Here is a summary of some of these findings:

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRACTICING A VARIETY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

• Young people who engage in a wide variety of physical activities are more likely to stay active as they grow older.
• Trying different types of physical activities helps discover and develop diverse interests.
• Young people who specialize in only one sport are at greater risk of giving up physical activity altogether.

THE INFLUENCE OF PARENTS ON YOUNG PEOPLE’S LEVEL OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

• Parents have a decisive impact on young people’s activity levels in both the short and long term.
• Young people who can rely on concrete and tangible support from their parents (such as accompanying them to training sessions, covering related costs, providing equipment, etc.) are more likely to maintain a higher level of physical activity for many years.
• Leading by example works. Children whose parents practice less popular sports (e.g., climbing, ultimate frisbee, etc.) are more inclined to explore these disciplines.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

• The presence of infrastructure (bike paths, parks with multipurpose facilities, trails) and a supportive school environment (bike racks, school crossing guards, active transportation programs, etc.) encourages physical activity.

MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

• The more young people participate in physical activities, the more they report having positive mental health and a good quality of life.
• Youth who engaged in more physical activities during adolescence are more likely to use physical activity as a stress management strategy and reported better mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Physical activity during adolescence continues to have positive effects on the mental health of young adults.
• 66% of Canadian youth do not engage in physical activity on a regular basis and therefore cannot benefit from this tool for stress management.
• When individuals become more active, their physical and social quality of life improves.
• Meeting three psychological needs — positive social interactions, a sense of competence, and a sense of autonomy — promotes regular physical activity.

BODY IMAGE AND LIFESTYLE HABITS

• Higher levels of shame, guilt, and embarrassment related to body image are associated with a greater decrease in physical activity.
• Adolescents who say they want to lose weight generally have poorer lifestyle habits: more screen time, higher consumption of sugary drinks, and less physical activity.
• A higher level of pride in one’s body image is linked to a higher level of physical activity throughout adolescence.

MOTIVATIONS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

• Children who engage in physical activity for fun are more likely to participate in organized physical activities.
• Those who aim to improve their skills tend to take part more often in group activities and are more likely to reach the recommended daily levels of physical activity.
• Among boys, motives related to enjoyment are positively associated with physical activity, while motives related to fitness are negatively associated.
• Among girls, motives related to competence are linked to greater participation.
• Although young people face internal barriers (e.g., lack of interest) and external barriers (e.g., lack of equipment), only internal barriers are likely to hinder their engagement in physical activity.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION PROFILES

Adolescents who engage in multiple types of physical activities—whether organized or not—are generally more active as adults. This “multi-sport” profile appears to be more beneficial than that of youth involved in only one organized sport, a form of specialization often discouraged.

This diversity of sports experiences helps young people develop autonomy and confidence to stay active, even outside formal structures. Moreover, adolescents who have practiced a variety of sports are also more likely to use physical activity as a way to cope with stress, which is associated with better mental health in adulthood.

In short, diversity and flexibility in sports practices during adolescence seem to be key factors for an active lifestyle and good long-term mental health.

Access to MATCH study data

For more information on the process by which researchers can initiate a data sharing agreement, please consult the following page: MATCH data sharing

Information

For more information on MATCH, please contact Julie Dufresne, Research Coordinator at julie.dufresne2@usherbrooke.ca

Funding Agencies