Frequency of Negative Adult Spectator Behavior at Adolescent Sporting Events
Megan Y, Yung, BS1, Elizabeth A. Rooks, BA1, Richard W. Chen, BA1*, Sydney L. Maarat, BS1, Ryan P. Doyle, BS1, Loren G. Yamamoto, MD, MPH, MBA1
1Department of Pediatrics, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaiʻi at Ma noa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
*Corresponding Author: Richard W. Chen, BA, Department of Pediatrics, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaiʻi at Ma noa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
https://doi.org/10.58624/SVOAPD.2025.04.019
Received: October 17, 2025
Published: November 10, 2025
Citation: Yung MY, Rooks EA, Chen RW, Maarat SL, Doyle RP, Yamamoto LG. Frequency of Negative Adult Spectator Behavior at Adolescent Sporting Events. SVOA Paediatrics 2025, 4:5, 127-133. doi: 10.58624SVOAPD.2025.04.019
Abstract
This study aims to determine the frequency of negative adult spectator behavior at youth sporting games for 11-15 year-olds and compare the frequency of different negative adult behaviors across four sports: baseball, basketball, soccer, and American flag-football. Investigators collected the frequencies of specific negative adult spectator behavior events at 40 sporting events in Central Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi from January 2022 through September 2023. Baseball had the highest mean incidence of total negative adult spectator behavior with a mean of 5.2 incidents per game (95% CIM 2.14 to 8.25). Basketball had 2.6 incidents (95% CI 0.41 to 4.79). American flag-football had 0.9 incidents per game (95% CI 0.47 to 1.33). Soccer had 1.8 incidents per game (95% CI -0.34 to 3.94). Our study found that children are exposed to varying amounts of undesirable adult behavior, indicating a need for establishment and enforcement of policies for adult behavior regulation.
Keywords: Negative Spectator Behavior, Youth Sports, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE), Adolescents, Parent Behavior