The band nerd or the jock? Who is most likely to come to your aid in times of need? A recently released study by Rutgers University may surprise you.
Published in Sage Journals, the study looked at the relationship between high school extracurricular activities and altruistic behaviors during crises. The study tracked 2,710 people from birth to adulthood. The findings showed that participation and level of extracurricular activities increased the likelihood of altruistic actions.
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The study showed that about 87% of respondents reported participating in after-school organizations during their high school years. Roughly 70% reported engaging in altruistic behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the study also shows that not all activities are equal. “By their very nature, sports encourage competition and division, pitting people against each other,” said Chien-Chung Huang, a professor at the Rutgers School of Social Work and lead author of the study.
Breaking down the numbers by activity, volunteer service ranked highest in predicting altruism. Volunteer activities include running errands, providing financial support and giving advice.
School clubs, hobbies, religious services and performance groups ranked second. It was the athletes who ranked last. Sports was also the largest group of participants.
Huang says coaches should pay attention to this study and find more ways to allow for sports and human development to grow together.
“Coaches could bring a component of volunteering into their sports programs,” Huang said. “Maybe teams could do an activity each month where they volunteer at a community center or retirement home. This would bring teams closer together and add an altruistic element.”
