I would like to start on a light note by quoting Al Gore (in South Park): "I'm super cereal" (Season 10, Episode 6: ManBearPig) on this topic. I take this subject matter to heart because, dear reader, I suffer from mental health issues. It could be said that it greatly affects athletes in a big way on athletes. It is has both negative and positive effects on them. This blog will be more research based than opinion based as I believe that experts are well informed on the matter than I am.
According to (Kindbridge, 2022), There are five negative outcomes: bullying, toxicity and abuse; exercise addiction; eating disorders; stress and sleeping disorders and finally anxiety and depression. Bullying and abuse can be very common. Toxicity can come from anywhere, whether it be from the coaches or the fans. Reasons can range from poor performances to race and gender. Trolling is very popular. Constant criticism can severely alter one's social and emotional development.
Exercising can be a consequence of over dedication. There is a difference between going to the gym everday and this kind of addiction. This addiction can lead to withdrawl symptoms if the athlete, for example, tries to cut down on it. They can be vulnerable to injuries due to the number of hours spent exercising. The pressure of winning and their public image may lead to these disorders. Other effects can lead to distorted thoughts, obsessive behaviours, low self-esteem and suicide ideation (Kindbridge, 2022).
Stress and sleeping disorders are a result of training, competition and travelling which could lead to inadequate or poor sleeping patterns. Being under pressure to perform can lead to anxiety and depression (Kindbridge, 2022).
Unfortunately, young athletes are also at risk of mental health issues. These include high pressure of performances and wins can be degrading on the health. The youth might lose enjoyment and a joy for the game as a result. Burnout can occur when scheduling becomes compact with practices, training, matches and travel. These aspects can lead to a hobby becoming a full-time job. Coaches and parents may turn to abusive tactics when they are solely focused on winning. Young athletes may also feel ashamement when they don't live up to expectations. This can lead to perfectionistic attitudes - which is highly maladaptive. They may also overtrain which puts them on a high risk of injury (Dekin, 2023).
Despite all the negativity, there are positives. More positive hormones are released. Running can be seen as a mood booster due to the release of serotonin and norepinephrine - the so-called, "feel-good hormones." Hiking in nature can drastically reduce anxiety levels and improve memory. It can also be relaxing. Yoga can also help in flexibility and stregthening your muscles. It can also improve overall well-being. Various other studies have shown that it can reduce stress and anxiety levels (Likeminded, 2023).
It is also stated by the same article that there are three positive effects: distractions, self-worth and performances. It provides distractions by enabling people to forget their worries and focus on themselves. When considering self-worth, there are two sides. On the one hand, it improves self-esteem and allows the ability to overcome our inner weaknesses. On the other hand, it can make people have a positive mindset on their physical condition. Performance wise, sport sessions serve us as a means of a break. A break for the brain and to switch off. The aftermath can be having clear thoughts (Likeminded, 2023).
According to a few researchers, children who have had bad experiences, such as sexual abuse, had better mental well-being when they were adults. Team sports can be way better than individual ones. According to another research, this is because training with a group, like with a club, is better for mental health than training/playing in individual ones. It can also lead to a better fight against addiction. It was found that team sports can prevent smoking cigarettes and the use of cannabis (WebMD, 2021).
Overall, I am surprised by the amounts of benefits of playing sports on mental health. I guess it's because the media only covers the negative aspects. Based on various research reports, it seems the positives outweigh the negatives. I am happy with this as everyone should see things on the brighter side and not even consider the negative aspects of life.
On a final note, I would like to thank Mikyla Richards for giving me the idea to do a research based post. She was speaking of doing a research paper for her studies.
Reference list:
Dekin, S. (2023). The Good And Bad Of Youth Athletics On Your Child’s Mental Health [online]. Available from: https://sbtreatment.com/blog/the-good-and-bad-of-youth-athletics-on-your-childs-mental-health/ [accessed: 15 February 2024].
Kindbridge. (2022). 5 Potentially Negative Outcomes of Sport on Mental Health and Where to Get Support to Mitigate the Risks [online]. Available from: https://kindbridge.com/mental-health/negative-effects-of-sports-on-mental-health/ [accessed: 15 February 2024].
Likeminded. (2023). Sport & Mental Health: How They Relate, Positive & Negative Effect [online]. Available from: https://www.likeminded.care/resources/sport-and-mental-health [accessed: 15 February 2024].
WebMD (2021). Benefits of Sports for Mental Health [online]. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/benefits-of-sports-for-mental-health [accessed: 15 February 2024].