School Track and Inequalities in Sports Rehabilitation among Chinese High School Students
Abstract
Sports injuries pose significant risks to adolescents’ health and development, and socioeconomic status (SES) plays a crucial role in shaping access to rehabilitation. While Western studies often use public versus private schooling as a proxy for SES, this distinction is less meaningful in China, where stratification is better captured by academic track. This study compares students on the national college entrance examination (Gaokao) track with those on the international college application track to assess differences in sports rehabilitation awareness and practices. Survey data from 95 high school students show that international-track students report higher acceptable medical costs and greater importance attached to protective expenditures, such as sports insurance and gear. In contrast, no significant track-based differences emerge in attitudes toward professional rehabilitation services. These findings suggest that financial inequalities underpin disparities in rehabilitation, while health awareness diffuses more evenly, pointing to both challenges and opportunities for more equitable policy design in Chinese schools.
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