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Youth Sport Specialization: Risks, Benefits, and Mental Health Considerations

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Psychological Considerations in the Young Athlete

Part of the book series: Contemporary Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine ((PASM))

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Abstract

As sport specialization among young athletes has become increasingly common; the topic has received much attention in the pediatric sports medicine arena over the last decade. The current paradigm shift in youth sports participation is toward participation with greater intensity, at higher competitive levels, and greater focus on singular sports activities to achieve these competitive levels. This chapter aims to discuss sport specialization with a unique focus on mental health, psychosocial well-being, and burnout along with the role of injury risk and the complex interplay between these factors in the young athlete.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Kristin E. Whitney

  2. The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, MA, USA

    Kristin E. Whitney, Pierre A. d’Hemecourt & Andrea Stracciolini

  3. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Kristin E. Whitney, Pierre A. d’Hemecourt & Andrea Stracciolini

  4. Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Pierre A. d’Hemecourt & Andrea Stracciolini

Authors
  1. Kristin E. Whitney
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  2. Pierre A. d’Hemecourt
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  3. Andrea Stracciolini
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kristin E. Whitney .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Sports Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Melissa A. Christino

  2. Division of Sports Medicine and Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Emily I. Pluhar

  3. Division of Sports Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Lyle J. Micheli

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Whitney, K.E., d’Hemecourt, P.A., Stracciolini, A. (2023). Youth Sport Specialization: Risks, Benefits, and Mental Health Considerations. In: Christino, M.A., Pluhar, E.I., Micheli, L.J. (eds) Psychological Considerations in the Young Athlete. Contemporary Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25126-9_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25126-9_9

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-25126-9

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