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Are nerds the caring ones? High school stereotypes suggest that athletes score more popularity points than marching band members, debaters or leaders in the student council, but research from Rutgers finds that so-called "geeky" activities may do more to cultivate compassion in the long run.

"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 published in Youth & Society.

"There are other afterschool activities that do a far better job nurturing altruism."

Extracurriculars have long been linked to higher grades, self-esteem and personal growth. Less understood is whether they foster generosity later in life, particularly during crises.

To explore the broader social impact of extracurricular activities during high school, Huang and colleagues examined data from the long-running Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, which has followed thousands of participants nationwide since 1998.

As part of that survey, in 2022, more than 2,700 respondents answered questions related to their participation in high school extracurriculars—activities that sit outside of the required school curriculum—between 2014 and 2018.

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, including whether they ran errands, offered childcare or provided financial support to others.

Using statistical modeling, Huang and colleagues then analyzed the two sets of responses.

The study revealed a clear pattern: The more involved students were after school, the more likely they were to help others in times of need. Volunteer service ranked highest in predicting altruism, followed by school clubs, hobbies, religious services and performance groups. Sports—the most popular activity by participation—ranked last for altruistic benefit.

For policymakers and school officials, Huang said, the findings should be a wake-up call to how sports are integrated into student development. While athletes often do better in school, are strong leaders and live healthier lives, the narrow focus on competition means there's plenty of room for improvement.

"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."

Still, Huang emphasized the findings aren't a criticism of sports, per se, but a reminder that any activity can include opportunities to care for others.

After-school programs of all kinds, including athletics, "can play a critical role in preparing youth to contribute meaningfully during times of societal need," he said.