In recent years, the mental health of the French has been undermined. According to a barometer by Santé Publique France published in early 2024, the suicidal thoughts have multiplied by “more than two” since 2014 among 18-24 year olds. Among mental health disorders, we find the Depression or even the anxiety disorders. Setting up activities that promote good mental health is therefore a matter of public health.
Researchers from Ohio State University in the United States looked at the benefits of physical activity on mental health in adults. They found that those who had played sports in their youth, particularly in a club or with other people, had fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to those who had never played or those who had given up. Their results are published in the revue Sociology of Sport.
Physical activity throughout childhood improves mental health in adulthood
To arrive at these conclusions, the researchers based themselves on data from 3,931 adults, registered in the national survey on sports and society, which was carried out in 2018 and 2019. They answered a series of questions on their mental health, as well as their habits when it comes tophysical activity when they were children. In this panel, 35% of participants had not played club sports, 41% had played but dropped out, and 24% had participated continuously until the age of 18.
The researchers noticed that people who had played sports in a club and continued until the age of 18 had “reported lower depressive symptoms and lower anxiety symptoms than others.” The researchers note that participants who had quit experienced more anxiety and depressive symptoms compared to those who had never quit.
Researchers call for “promote positive experiences” For the young
But what are the causes of abandoning organized physical activity? 34% of respondents believed “not having fun”, while 31% felt that “not being a good player”. Among the other causes, we can note that of wanting to concentrate on school work, or the fear of injury, these two reasons each representing 16% of the responses. Finally, 15% remembered having a problem with a member of the team and 14% wanting to do another activity. Additionally, 8% say they dropped out of school because they were abused by a coach.
In a statement, Chris Knoester, lead author of the study and professor of sociology at Ohio State University, summarizes: “if you play a sport and stick with it, it’s positive for your mental health, but if you play and give up, it seems to be negative – and most kids give up.” The latter, however, qualifies “Most participants did not have clinical signs of depression or anxiety, and the differences between the three groups were relatively modest. But the differences were still important.”
Also, researchers call for promoting sports practice among young people and “to improve youth sport so that it promotes positive experiences for all and makes it more enjoyable.”
Sources :
- Dermal bioavailability of perfluoroalkyl substances using in vitro 3D human skin equivalent models – Sociology of Sport.
- Playing youth sports linked to better mental health in adults – communiqué
