Physical activity and sports are more than just a way to keep both children and teenagers physically fit, they play a significant role in supporting and sustaining their mental well-being. From improving moods to teaching how to show perseverance, sports can have a comprehensive impact on anyone’s mental health, especially children and teenagers.
Boosting Mood and Reducing Anxiety Through Physical Activity
Studies have shown that the action of exercising can release endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that act as natural mood elevators. Endorphins are better known for their name the “feel-good” hormones, they can help significantly reduce anxiety and decrease stress levels while stimulating feelings of calmness. Physical activity can also regulate cortisol levels, AKA, the stress hormone. This can play a big role in helping manage emotions better and more effectively. According to published research, regular and consistent exercise can improve symptoms of anxiety and mild depression in adolescents. Incorporating movement into yours or your child’s daily routine regardless of how intense or vigorous can significantly improve energy levels and emotional stability.
Confidence and Self-Esteem, The Role of Achievement in Sports
Setting goals and achieving them through sports can help build a strong sense of self-worth and self-confidence. Whether it is through gaining a new skill, scoring a goal, or simply improving performance, every achievement small or big, can help reinforce confidence. This is particularly important for teenagers who may be navigating through feelings of self-doubt, which I can say firsthand, is very difficult and stressful as is. Success in sports can help teach the importance of believing in your abilities, which can later extend into other areas of life including academics and social interactions. Additionally, receiving recognition and encouragement from coaches, family, teammates, and friends can help strengthen an individual’s self-esteem.
Teamwork in Group Sports
Team sports create a unique environment, differing quite a bit from classrooms and other more structured settings, for building friendships. Working together towards a shared goal, whether it is to win a tournament, a game, and more, can help develop an individuals collaboration and communication skills along with bettering their ability to trust people. Group activities also have the potential to teach younger athletes to respect different perspectives and handle conflicts with kindness and respect. Something that also comes along with being in a sports team is a sense of belonging, this can be critical, especially to teenagers who may be struggling with feelings of being alone and isolated. Having a supportive team can provide somewhat of a “safe-space” where everyone can openly express their feelings whether it be about the team or their own personal struggles/challenges.
Building Perseverance and Managing Stress in Healthy Ways
Sports often challenge both teenagers and children to push their limits and face setbacks they may not have originally been prepared to. Both of these factors combined can help create perseverance, a key characteristic essential to handling life’s many challenges. Learning to handle wins and losses, manage the pressure that comes with tournaments/competitions, and bounce back from failures provides children and teens with effective coping strategies for stress and stressful situations. Along with that, sports can provide people with a more structured outlet to release tension as opposed to more “unhealthy” habits.
