Mental Health and the Young Athlete: Difference between revisions

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<div class="editorbox"> '''Original Editor '''- [[User:Janine Rose|Janine Rose]] '''Top Contributors''' - {{Special:Contributors/{{FULLPAGENAME}}}}</div>


=== '''Introduction''' ===


Physical activity is beneficial for all. The WHO recommended that children and youth between the ages of 5 and 17 ought to take part in 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous each day (WHO). A young individual who takes part in a sporting activity will be able to meet these requirements and garner the benefits of being physically active. According to Merkel (2013) organized sports have a positive impact on the young individual who participates in such activities. Athletic endeavors aided in mitigating the negative impact of inactivity and an unhealthy lifestyle. Notwithstanding this however it ought to be stated that this same study also noted that sports could have a negative impact on the young athlete. The WHO defined mental health "as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community (WHO, 2014)
==Introduction==


The adolescent years are accompanied by many stressors. The young person who participates in athletic endeavors may find participation in such activities an additional source of stress. The activity which is of physical benefit to the athlete may have both a positive and negative psychological and emotional impact on their well-being. The young athlete is "still developing cognitively and physically and is actively learning from adult behaviors and values" (Athletic Magee)
[[Physical activity]] is beneficial for individuals regardless of age. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that children and young people aged 5-17 participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous each day.  


Research suggests that the prevalence of mental disorders may be lower in the athletic population or comparable to the general population of young people (Gulliver et al BMC psychiatry 2012, 12:157). Larun et al (2006) postulated that taking part in such activity may aid in decreasing anxiety and depression in young individuals. To gain this information they evaluated a total of sixteen studies with a total of 1191 young persons. The individuals were between the ages of 11-19 years. It should e noted that the researchers stated that while it appears that activity has this positive effect " the small number of studies included and the clinical diversity of participants, interventions and methods of measurement limit the ability to draw conclusions" (Larun, 2006).This is in contrast to a study done by Kissinger (2007) who found that athletes at the intercollegiate suffered from psychological conditions at a slightly higher rate (2% more) than the general age matched population.
Campbell et al (2018) reported that:


Magee (athletic Magee) highlights the fact that personnel such as physicians, athletic trainers and sports physical therapist involved in the care of young athletes ought to ensure the overall emotional and cognitive well-being of the athlete. It is noted that this is important not only for the present development of the young athlete but also future development.
'''"sport participation represents leisure activities which promote social, mental and physical well-being"''' <ref name=":3">Campbell E, Irving R, Bailey J, Dilworth L, Abel W. W.[http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajssm/6/3/2/ “Overview of psychophysiological stress and the implications for junior athletes”.] American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2018;6(3):72-8.</ref>.   
 
The WHO defined mental health (WHO, 2014): 
 
'''"as a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community"''' 
[[File:Children playing volleyball.jpg|thumb|427x427px]]
 
==Benefits of Sporting Activities==
 
=== Physiological Benefits ===
Sporting activities have many positive physiological effects:
* Reduces the prevalence of [[obesity]]
* Muscle strengthening<ref name=":2">Morrow Jr JR, Tucker JS, Jackson AW, Martin SB, Greenleaf CA, Petrie TA. [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749379713000664 Meeting physical activity guidelines and health-related fitness in youth]. American journal of preventive medicine. 2013 May 1;44(5):439-44.</ref>
* Increased aerobic capacity<ref name=":2" />
* Improved bone density<ref>Tremblay MS, Warburton DE, Janssen I, Paterson DH, Latimer AE, Rhodes RE, Kho ME, Hicks A, LeBlanc AG, Zehr L, Murumets K. [https://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full/10.1139/H11-009#.XO_g3IhKiUk New Canadian physical activity guidelines.] Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism. 2011 Feb 15;36(1):36-46.</ref>
* Reducing the risk of [[Diabetes Mellitus Type 2|diabetes]]
* Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease
 
=== Physiological Benefits Specifically for Females ===
Particularly for women, sport participation has been shown to reduce the risk of:   
* [[Cardiovascular Disease|Coronary heart disease]]   
* Cancer   
* [[Osteoporosis]]   
* [[Alzheimer's Disease|Alzheimer's]]   
* [[Dementia]]<ref name=":4">Staurowsky EJ, DeSousa MJ, Ducher G, et al. [https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED515841.pdf Her Life Depends On It II: Sport, Physical Activity, and the Health and Well-Being of American Girls and Women.] East Meadow, NY: Women’s Sports Foundation; 2009.</ref>   
* Reduced illicit drug use<ref name=":4" />   
* Teen pregnancy<ref name=":4" />   
 
=== Mental Health Benefits ===
Sports and exercise also has a great deal of mental health benefits for young people:
* Improves self-esteem<ref name=":1">Magee DJ, Manske RC, Zachazewski JE, Quillen WS. ''Athletic and Sport Issues in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation'' . Missouri: Saunders; 2010. </ref>
* Social skills<ref name=":1" />
* Discipline<ref name=":1" />
* Has been show to improve general behaviour i.e. not participate in "risky activities"<ref name=":1" />
* Eating disorders<ref name=":4" />
 
== Negatives of Young People in Sport ==
The adolescent years are accompanied by many changes and stresses. Young people who participate in athletic endeavors may find participation in such activities an additional source of stress.
 
Sport or physical exercise, may have both a positive and negative psychological and emotional impact on their well-being. The young athlete is "still developing cognitively and physically and is actively learning from adult behaviors and values" <ref name=":1" />.
* Fear of failure<ref name=":6">Sagar SS, Lavallee D, Spray CM. [https://journals.humankinetics.com/doi/abs/10.1123/jcsp.3.1.73 Coping with the effects of fear of failure: A preliminary investigation of young elite athletes]. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology. 2009 Mar;3(1):73-98.</ref>
* Negative impact on academic studies due to being sport focused <ref name=":6" />
* Parental pressures<ref name=":0" />
* Not learning coping strategies<ref name=":3" />
 
==The Impact of Sport on the Young Athlete==
Young individuals should be encouraged to take part in sporting activities.
 
The sport should be one in which they show an interest as it has been shown that individuals are more likely to take part in an activity that they enjoy. Often the young athlete may be placed in an activity not because they have an interest but because their parent desires them to participate. The disinterest on the part of the athlete may lead to them not participating at an optimal level even if they have the aptitude for the sport. Parents''',''' however, may be a source of stress for the young athlete.<ref name=":0">Brukner P, Khan K. ''Brukner & Khan's Clinical Sports Medicine'', 4th ed. Austrailia: McGraw Hill; 2011. </ref>
 
Research suggests that the prevalence of mental health disorders may be lower in the athletic population when compared to the general population of young people <ref>Gulliver A, Griffiths KM, Christensen H. [https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-244X-12-157 Barriers and facilitators to mental health help-seeking for young elite athletes: a qualitative study.] BMC psychiatry. 2012 Dec;12(1):157.</ref>. Taking part in such activity may aid in decreasing anxiety and depression in young individuals<ref name=":5">Larun L, Nordheim LV, Ekeland E, Hagen KB, Heian F. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16856055 Exercise in prevention and treatment of anxiety and depression among children and young people]. Cochrane database of systematic reviews. 2006(3).</ref>. This is in contrast to a study done which found that athletes at college level suffered from psychological conditions at a slightly higher rate (2% more) than the general age matched population<ref>Watson JC, Kissinger DB. Athletic participation and wellness: Implications for counseling college student‐athletes. Journal of College Counseling. 2007 Sep;10(2):153-62.[https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.2161-1882.2007.tb00015.x]</ref>.
 
It was found that older athletes were better able to cope with adversity when compared to their younger counterparts<ref>Bebetsos E, Antoniou P. [http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2466/pms.2003.97.3f.1289 Psychological skills of Greek badminton athletes. Perceptual and Motor Skills.] 2003 Dec;97(3_suppl):1289-96.</ref>. 
 
It was also reported that many young athletes had not learned coping strategies to aid them in mitigating the effects of such a stressful environment this could result in negative physiological and psychological effects.<ref name=":3" /> Which could include a disruption of metabolism and cognitive functioning, as well as cell production in the immune system which may influence the course of chronic diseases and disorders <ref name=":3" />. 
 
It was highlighted that personnel such as physicians, athletic trainers and sports physiotherapists involved in the care of young athletes should consider the overall emotional and cognitive well-being of the athlete <ref name=":1" />. It is noted that this is important not only for the present development of the young athlete but also future development. Mental skills training is not only beneficial for the emotional and psychological health of the athlete. It can also have a positive impact on the physical training, motor skill development and facilitation of rehabilitation of the athlete. <ref name=":0" />
 
== Conclusion ==
Sport and exercise has been shown to have a general positive influence on young peoples' mental health. It has been shown that physically active children have improved mental health compared with children who have a more sedentary and screen based lifestyle.<ref>Biddle SJ, Asare M. [https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/45/11/886.short Physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents: a review of reviews]. British journal of sports medicine. 2011 Sep 1;45(11):886-95.</ref>
 
Sport can lead to improvements in mental as well as physical health which can also influence the individuals lifestyle in later years, therefore, sport and exercise in youth should be encouraged.
 
== Resources ==
World Health Organisation - [https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity Physical activity]
 
== References ==
[[Category:Sports Medicine]]
[[Category:Sports Medicine]]
[[Category:Younger Athlete]]
[[Category:Younger Athlete]]
[[Category:Mental Health]]
[[Category:Mental Health]]
<references />
[[Category:Mental Health - Physical Activity]]
[[Category:Physical Activity]]

Latest revision as of 19:14, 21 October 2022

Original Editor - Janine Rose Top Contributors - Janine Rose, Abbey Wright, Kim Jackson, Wanda van Niekerk and Oyemi Sillo


Introduction[edit | edit source]

Physical activity is beneficial for individuals regardless of age. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that children and young people aged 5-17 participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous each day.

Campbell et al (2018) reported that:

"sport participation represents leisure activities which promote social, mental and physical well-being" [1].

The WHO defined mental health (WHO, 2014):

"as a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community"

Children playing volleyball.jpg

Benefits of Sporting Activities[edit | edit source]

Physiological Benefits[edit | edit source]

Sporting activities have many positive physiological effects:

  • Reduces the prevalence of obesity
  • Muscle strengthening[2]
  • Increased aerobic capacity[2]
  • Improved bone density[3]
  • Reducing the risk of diabetes
  • Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease

Physiological Benefits Specifically for Females[edit | edit source]

Particularly for women, sport participation has been shown to reduce the risk of:

Mental Health Benefits[edit | edit source]

Sports and exercise also has a great deal of mental health benefits for young people:

  • Improves self-esteem[5]
  • Social skills[5]
  • Discipline[5]
  • Has been show to improve general behaviour i.e. not participate in "risky activities"[5]
  • Eating disorders[4]

Negatives of Young People in Sport[edit | edit source]

The adolescent years are accompanied by many changes and stresses. Young people who participate in athletic endeavors may find participation in such activities an additional source of stress.

Sport or physical exercise, may have both a positive and negative psychological and emotional impact on their well-being. The young athlete is "still developing cognitively and physically and is actively learning from adult behaviors and values" [5].

  • Fear of failure[6]
  • Negative impact on academic studies due to being sport focused [6]
  • Parental pressures[7]
  • Not learning coping strategies[1]

The Impact of Sport on the Young Athlete[edit | edit source]

Young individuals should be encouraged to take part in sporting activities.

The sport should be one in which they show an interest as it has been shown that individuals are more likely to take part in an activity that they enjoy. Often the young athlete may be placed in an activity not because they have an interest but because their parent desires them to participate. The disinterest on the part of the athlete may lead to them not participating at an optimal level even if they have the aptitude for the sport. Parents, however, may be a source of stress for the young athlete.[7]

Research suggests that the prevalence of mental health disorders may be lower in the athletic population when compared to the general population of young people [8]. Taking part in such activity may aid in decreasing anxiety and depression in young individuals[9]. This is in contrast to a study done which found that athletes at college level suffered from psychological conditions at a slightly higher rate (2% more) than the general age matched population[10].

It was found that older athletes were better able to cope with adversity when compared to their younger counterparts[11].

It was also reported that many young athletes had not learned coping strategies to aid them in mitigating the effects of such a stressful environment this could result in negative physiological and psychological effects.[1] Which could include a disruption of metabolism and cognitive functioning, as well as cell production in the immune system which may influence the course of chronic diseases and disorders [1].

It was highlighted that personnel such as physicians, athletic trainers and sports physiotherapists involved in the care of young athletes should consider the overall emotional and cognitive well-being of the athlete [5]. It is noted that this is important not only for the present development of the young athlete but also future development. Mental skills training is not only beneficial for the emotional and psychological health of the athlete. It can also have a positive impact on the physical training, motor skill development and facilitation of rehabilitation of the athlete. [7]

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

Sport and exercise has been shown to have a general positive influence on young peoples' mental health. It has been shown that physically active children have improved mental health compared with children who have a more sedentary and screen based lifestyle.[12]

Sport can lead to improvements in mental as well as physical health which can also influence the individuals lifestyle in later years, therefore, sport and exercise in youth should be encouraged.

Resources[edit | edit source]

World Health Organisation - Physical activity

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Campbell E, Irving R, Bailey J, Dilworth L, Abel W. W.“Overview of psychophysiological stress and the implications for junior athletes”. American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2018;6(3):72-8.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Morrow Jr JR, Tucker JS, Jackson AW, Martin SB, Greenleaf CA, Petrie TA. Meeting physical activity guidelines and health-related fitness in youth. American journal of preventive medicine. 2013 May 1;44(5):439-44.
  3. ↑ Tremblay MS, Warburton DE, Janssen I, Paterson DH, Latimer AE, Rhodes RE, Kho ME, Hicks A, LeBlanc AG, Zehr L, Murumets K. New Canadian physical activity guidelines. Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism. 2011 Feb 15;36(1):36-46.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Staurowsky EJ, DeSousa MJ, Ducher G, et al. Her Life Depends On It II: Sport, Physical Activity, and the Health and Well-Being of American Girls and Women. East Meadow, NY: Women’s Sports Foundation; 2009.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Magee DJ, Manske RC, Zachazewski JE, Quillen WS. Athletic and Sport Issues in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation . Missouri: Saunders; 2010. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Sagar SS, Lavallee D, Spray CM. Coping with the effects of fear of failure: A preliminary investigation of young elite athletes. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology. 2009 Mar;3(1):73-98.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Brukner P, Khan K. Brukner & Khan's Clinical Sports Medicine, 4th ed. Austrailia: McGraw Hill; 2011. 
  8. ↑ Gulliver A, Griffiths KM, Christensen H. Barriers and facilitators to mental health help-seeking for young elite athletes: a qualitative study. BMC psychiatry. 2012 Dec;12(1):157.
  9. ↑ Larun L, Nordheim LV, Ekeland E, Hagen KB, Heian F. Exercise in prevention and treatment of anxiety and depression among children and young people. Cochrane database of systematic reviews. 2006(3).
  10. ↑ Watson JC, Kissinger DB. Athletic participation and wellness: Implications for counseling college student‐athletes. Journal of College Counseling. 2007 Sep;10(2):153-62.[1]
  11. ↑ Bebetsos E, Antoniou P. Psychological skills of Greek badminton athletes. Perceptual and Motor Skills. 2003 Dec;97(3_suppl):1289-96.
  12. ↑ Biddle SJ, Asare M. Physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents: a review of reviews. British journal of sports medicine. 2011 Sep 1;45(11):886-95.
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