Mental Health and the Young Athlete
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Physical activity is usually 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
"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).
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]
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
Physiological benefits specifically for females[edit | edit source]
Particularly for women, sport participation has been shown to reduce the risk of:
- Coronary heart disease
- Cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Alzheimer's
- Dementia[4]
- Reduced illicit drug use[4]
- Teen pregnancy[4]
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. 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" [5]. They ought therefore to be considered as a special population onto themselves with needs and behaviors which differ from the adult athlete.
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. It is known 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. The parent usually wishes to their child live up to their full potential including their involvement in the sporting activity. Parents, however, may be a source of stress for the young athlete. According to Brukner and Khan (2011) "parental interference and pressure are among the main reasons that children drop out of sports".[6]
Research suggests that the prevalence of mental disorders may be lower in the athletic population or comparable to the general population of young people [7]. Larun et al (2006) postulated that taking part in such activity may aid in decreasing anxiety and depression in young individuals[8]. 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 be 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" [8].
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[9].
In a study by Bebetsos and Antoniou (2003), it was found that older athletes were better able to cope with adversity when compared to their younger counterparts[10]. This is further supported by Campbell et al who reported that many young athletes had not learned coping strategies to aid them in mitigating the effects of such a stressful environment[1]. It was further stated that this could result in negative physiological and psychological effects. These 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].
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 [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. [6]
Resources[edit | edit source]
World Health Organisation - Physical activity and young people
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 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.
- ↑ 2.0 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 4.0 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.
- ↑ 5.0 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.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Brukner P, Khan K. Brukner & Khan's Clinical Sports Medicine, 4th ed. Austrailia: McGraw Hill; 2011.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 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).
- ↑ 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]
- ↑ Bebetsos E, Antoniou P. Psychological skills of Greek badminton athletes. Perceptual and Motor Skills. 2003 Dec;97(3_suppl):1289-96.
