Using Sport to Combat Kids' Mental Health Struggles

Youth sport offers a sanctuary, a shield and a coping strategy for children and teens

Various authorities have been sounding the alarm about worsening mental health among children and teens. Whilst the period of the pandemic was without doubt catastrophic, things were heading in the wrong direction long before covid-19. In late 2021 the American Academy of Pediatrics took the extraordinary step of declaring a ‘national emergency in child and adolescent mental health’. The urgent task that now faces all of us is putting countermeasures in place for those who are suffering whilst pursuing lifestyle changes to render kids more resilient to the psychological and emotional challenges they are facing.

It is well established that a sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for anxiety and depression. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that declining levels of physical activity among youth over recent decades has coincided with higher reported incidence of mental health issues among kids and in adolescents especially. Measures of physical fitness and mental health among children and adolescents are demonstrably related. There is much evidence indicating that this is a causal relationship.

It is widely accepted that physical exercise is anxiolytic - that is, alleviates feelings of anxiety. It is also well known that physical exercise is effective in reducing depressive symptoms. When kids are deprived of regular physical exercise it follows that their mental health will suffer as a result. School-aged children in an urban setting who do not regularly participate in sport are more likely to become withdrawn and suffer with depression. Low levels of physical activity in early adolescence likewise predicts depressive symptoms over the teenage years. The pandemic brought all this into sharp focus and the lingering effects on participation and mental health remain worryingly apparent.

A related trend that was already firmly established but also accelerated by the pandemic is for an ever-growing portion of kids’ lives to be spent online. More screen time has negative consequences for psychological and emotional wellbeing in children and adolescents. More time engaged with a screen makes kids more sedentary and leads to more time spent indoors, each of which has negative implications for mental health. Screen time in general and the use of mobile digital technology in particular is a common cause of sleep disruption among children and adolescents, which also impacts mental health, especially for adolescents who are especially prone to these ill effects. The rising use of digital technology since the advent of the smartphone has come at the cost of reduced social interaction with peers, fuelling the increase in reported loneliness among adolescents.

Given that declining engagement in physical exercise and sport is seemingly part of what got us here, it follows that youth sport might equally offer us a way out. Kids who regularly participate in sport are less likely to develop mental health issues. In addition to this protective function, sport and physical exercise are becoming an accepted part of the toolkit for managing and mitigating mental health issues.

Ironically the realisation of the potential utility of sport to address the current mental health crisis in youth in part stemmed from what we observed during the pandemic. Notably, those who maintained regular physical activity over the period of the pandemic suffered less anxiety and depression. A related finding is that individuals with a history of competing in sport similarly proved far less prone to negative mental health outcomes during the lockdown.

It has long been known that physical exercise has the power to boost mood and elicit feelings of wellbeing. We now better understand the changes in brain chemistry that are responsible for the positive effects associated with different forms of exercise. In addition to these neurophysiological effects, physical exercise in a group adds a social element. Sport brings further benefits on top of those associated with physical exercise alone. In the digital age youth sports provide a vital bulwark against time spent on screens, which in itself helps to negate the associated negative psychosocial effects. Engaging in sport also allows kids to blow off steam and in this and other ways serves as an important buffer against life stress. During the turbulence and uncertainty of the adolescent years sport offers a sanctuary where things remain constant and everybody continues to operate in accordance with an agreed upon set of rules. Sport not only represents a social good in its capacity to bring kids from different walks of life together but now also assumes increased importance as one of the few remaining domains for in-person social interaction. Youth sport is accordingly linked with prosocial behaviour in kids and in this way combats the loneliness and sense of social isolation that is increasingly prevalent among modern youth. The experiences and challenges of participating and competing in sport also helps kids to develop productive coping strategies and skills.

Team sport arguably provides the greatest combination of benefits and in turn most consistently demonstrates a positive impact on mental health outcomes in children and teens. Children who regularly participate in organised sports are less likely to develop psychological issues. Data from different parts of the world indicate this protective effect is also evident in the adolescent years when kids are most prone to mental health struggles. An investigation of Australian adolescents reported that greater participation in team sports predicts lower incidence of depression and anxiety symptoms over time. A large-scale study of high school students in Canada similarly reported that those who participated in varsity sport experienced less depression and anxiety symptoms.

All of this points to the wider importance of keeping kids engaged in sport as they reach adolescence. Participation in organised sports during adolescence creates a virtuous cycle: engaging in sport fosters better mental health in teens; and better mental health in turn increases the probability that they will remain engaged in sport. The negative implication of all this is that kids who are suffering with anxiety are less likely to participate in organised sport, so will need some encouragement to overcome their natural reticence. Low fitness and motor competence are also common barriers that will need to be overcome for kids who are struggling. Lower general motor skill proficiency is linked to both reduced physical fitness and worse mental health among adolescents. It follows that coaching to help address these deficits will be necessary to give these kids a boost and facilitate participation to enable them to take advantage of the benefits of engaging in sport.

Whilst youth sport is a net positive on the whole, it is important we acknowledge that the experience is not universally positive and sadly in some cases can have a detrimental effect on an individual’s mental health. The social dynamics and the quality of the interactions with coaches and fellow athletes all have a crucial bearing. The role of the coach is pivotal, not just in terms of how they conduct themselves, but also their stewardship over the environment. The behaviour of parents is likewise a factor, so it is important that parents are mindful of their own actions. Finally, the peer group becomes increasingly important as kids reach their teens, so this is another key consideration. Ultimately what we are seeking is the right blend of challenge and support with an emphasis on personal agency to foster the development of individuals who are capable, adaptable and resilient.