Team sports linked to fewer mental health problems for children

Previous research has consistently suggested that youth participation in organized sports can help protect against mental health problems. However, some studies have linked youth sports participation to poorer mental health. Thus, more detailed research is needed to determine which approaches to sport may be most beneficial.

To shed new light, Hoffmann and colleagues analyzed data on the exercise habits and mental health of 11,235 children aged 9 to 13. Parents and guardians reported on various aspects of the children’s mental health by completing a form known as the Child Behavior Checklist. The researchers looked for any links between the mental health data and the children’s exercise habits, while also taking into account other factors that may influence mental health, such as family income and overall physical activity.

In line with the researchers’ expectations, the analysis showed that children involved in team sports were less likely to show signs of anxiety, depression, withdrawal, social problems and attention problems.

The researchers also expected that individual sports would be associated with fewer mental health problems, albeit to a lesser extent than team sports. Instead, however, they found that children who played only individual sports tended to have greater mental health problems than those who played no sports at all. Nevertheless, participation in both team and individual sports for girls was associated with a lower likelihood of rule-breaking behavior than participation in non-sport activities.

Overall, these findings add to a growing body of evidence that team sports participation is positively associated with the mental health of children and adolescents. The authors suggest that further research could help clarify the link between individual sports and worse mental health problems, and longitudinal observations are needed to investigate any causal relationships between sports participation and mental health.

The authors add: “Children and adolescents who played exclusively team sports, such as basketball or football, had fewer mental health problems than those who did not participate in any organized sports. But to our surprise, young people who only participated in individual sports, such as gymnastics or tennis, had more mental health problems than those who did not participate in organized sports.”