Understanding Drivers of Early Life Course Arts, Culture and Recreation Participation in Aotearoa New Zealand

Background Participation in arts, culture and recreation activities (ACRs) supports youth wellbeing, however little is known about the drivers of participation across the life course. Longitudinal approaches provide nuanced insights into patterns of access and engagement, identifying where additional support is needed to sustain engagement in ACRs over time.

Methods This study examines ACR participation from ages 8 to 12 in Aotearoa New Zealand, across Sports, Creative Arts and Community-based activities. Data came from the 8-year wave (2017–2019) and 12-year wave (2021–2022) of the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal cohort study (N = 3,738). We assessed participation pathways (sustained, increasing, decreasing or disengaged), and analysed associations with identity (gender, ethnicity, disability) and sociodemographic factors (deprivation, household structure, rurality), using chi-squared tests of independence and standardised residuals analyses.

Results Participation in all three activity types increased from ages 8 to 12. Identity and sociodemographic characteristics were significantly associated, but not rurality. Across participation pathways, engagement was not evenly distributed across the population, with structural, geographic, and cultural influences contributing to complex patterns of access and continuity. For example, children in extended family households showed higher increasing Creative Arts participation and higher sustained Community activity participation, highlighting the positive impacts of support from family.

Conclusions Findings highlight both persistent inequities and promising enabling factors in access to ACRs amongst youth. Targeted, equity-focused interventions are needed to ensure all young people in Aotearoa can sustain meaningful participation in ACRs across the life course.