America’s Most Divided Sport: Polarization and Inequality in Attitudes about Youth Football

Abstract Football may be America’s most popular sport, but with growing evidence of the risk sport-associated concussions, some adults are reconsidering which sports to encourage children play. Using data from a nationally representative sample 958 respondents, we examine how political party, belief in patriotic displays attention concussion news, social class, and race associated support for playing each five major U.S. sports: baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, football. Our findings suggest that unlike other sports, attitudes about youth participation football divided by views on patriotism age, race, education, news. For many Americans, is connected civil religion, celebrates national pride respect military. We argue child safety advocates who aim steer away must grapple deeper cultural identity-based framework sport.