Does Physical Activity Deter People From Committing Crime?

When looking at why people commit crimes you find reasons such as socio-economic status, education, mental health, and just plain boredom. A constant question being asked is how to stop people from committing crimes. The main aim of my research is to see if sports and physical activity can work as deterrents in reducing criminal activity. Using past studies and conducting a literature review, I was able to pinpoint many bridges between crime and physical activity by researching both topics in regards to socio-economic status, gender, education, and health. My findings suggest that people involved in sports and physical activity have lower levels of criminal activity. Low socio-economic status, low levels of education, and poor mental health all have negative effects on criminal activity. Sports and physical activity have positive effects on education and mental health, and those from higher socio-economic families are more involved in sports as well. The connection is clear that there is a positive effect from sports and physical activity on criminal activity. This knowledge is extremely important as it may show those struggling with criminal behavior positive alternatives; it is also important information for parents to know as getting children involved in sports may decrease the risk of their child becoming involved with crime