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How do sports participation and sports settings influence the mental health of children and adolescents? A systematic review of qualitative studies

Promoting mental health through sports participation may be a promising strategy to support the mental health of children and adolescents. This systematic review investigated the perceptions of children and adolescents and of stakeholders close to this target group (e.g., teammates, coaches, parents) on

1. how sports participation influences the mental health of children and adolescents and 
2. factors in sports settings influencing this relationship.

Results
Sports participation influenced various mental health outcomes, including emotions, self-confidence and self-esteem, levels of stress, and resilience, both positively and negatively. Five key individual mechanisms were identified through which sports participation influenced mental health: distraction and focus, performance, personal development, purpose and structure in life, and a sense of belonging.

Additionally, interpersonal factors, such as the influence of coaches, teammates and peers, family members, and (team) professionals, appeared important in the relationship between sports participation and mental health. The broader social climate (organizational and community levels) also influenced this relationship. Based on the socio-ecological model and the review findings, a theoretical model was developed illustrating these interconnections.

Conclusions
The findings confirm the potential mental health benefits of sports participation among children and adolescents, which are largely influenced by interpersonal factors. However, some negative mental health outcomes were also identified and may be underreported. These insights can guide targeted interventions to enhance youth mental health through sports participation, aligned with the proposed theoretical model. Future research should refine this model, assess its applicability across populations, developmental stages, sports activities, and settings, and explore its links with sport drop-out.

Uitgever(s): Springer Nature,

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Auteur(s)

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Linda Ooms
Wikke van Stam
Vassilis Sevdalis
Marie Overbye
Beatrix Algurén
Sandra Heck
Aurélie Van Hoye

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Tags van dit artikel

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adolescenten
geestelijke gezondheid
jeugd
kinderen

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