A168: Impact of Sports Participation on the Urban Integration of Migrant Children Under Social Identity Theory

With the acceleration of urbanization, many rural children move to cities with their parents as migrant children, but the urban-rural difference makes them face challenges in the integration process. As a wide range of social activities, sports have unique social and identity-building functions. Therefore, based on social identity theory, this study explores how sports can help migrant children integrate into the city. The theory emphasizes that individuals construct themselves and their sense of belonging through social classification, comparison, and positive differentiation. At the same time, the study analyzes the impact of sports participation on the social cognition of migrant children, reveals its positive role in enhancing urban identity, provides theoretical and practical guidance for the formulation of policies and the design of sports intervention programs, and helps migrant children better integrate into the city, achieve social harmony, and individual development. Literature method was used to construct the theoretical basis, logical analysis method was used to summarize and establish the logical framework, semi-structured interview method was used to collect experience, and qualitative analysis revealed the mechanism of sports participation on urban integration. The study found that sports participation was positively correlated with the urban integration of migrant children and could significantly promote their integration. Specifically: (1) enhance city identity and reduce loneliness and exclusion. (2) Promote the accumulation of social capital and expand social networks. (3) Enhance social adaptability, cultivate team spirit, and awareness of rules. However, from the perspective of social identity theory, it is further analyzed that sports participation promotes urban integration by enhancing social identity, and has the following internal mechanisms: (1) social classification: diminishing urban-rural differences and enhancing urban group identity; (2) social comparison: By comparing with urban peers, migrant children adjust their self-cognition and enhance their self-confidence and sense of self-worth. (3) Positive differentiation: successful experiences in sports, such as winning competitions, improve self-esteem and self-efficacy, and encourage them to think more positively about themselves and city life. Research shows that sports participation helps migrant children integrate into the city, accumulate social and human capital, and enhance their sense of identity. Families, schools, and communities should work together, with schools providing courses and competition opportunities, communities building facilities and organizing activities, and families encouraging interest. In the future, the influence mechanism and optimization strategy of sports activities can be further explored to enhance the inclusion effect.