Participating in Sports Can Greatly Increase Mental Well-Being

Question

Sports are a great way for people to release stress and greatly benefit from increased social skills. It gives participants an opportunity to connect with one another and create lasting friendships through a shared passion or activity.

Comments

I totally agree with this claim and so the facts. Those who are physically active, whether it be for competitive sports or simply for exercise or fun, people who participate in sports are proven to have better mental health. In an article written by the American Psychiatric Association, it is said that physical activity has been proven to reduce depression and be a form of treatment for those with mental health struggles. This is just one source that supports this claim, but there are many out there that back up the idea that sports benefit mental health.

Sources: https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/americans-psychiatrists-agree-sports-can-be-good-f

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As an athlete that has been involved in team sports for a large part of my life, having a sport does cause a difference in mental health. I say "difference" because, thought the positives are prevalent with team based sports, there are negative sides to sports. I read through the link provided and noticed that it was a broad database of information that revolves around answering the question between sports and mental health. Now the information that was provided was well backed and credible, I wanted to go further detail with a source I found personally. After cross analyzing, I noticed that information from both sources provided similar information and noticed the potential discrepancy in mental health as the overall level of the sport and ages increased.

Source: https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/about/newsroom/articles/the-importance-of-mental-health-in-sports

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This claim tends to pyschologially proven as a way to greatly increase mental well-being. While sports have been commonly seen through the lens of physicality and performance, the benefits go further than the body. There are many pyschological benefits related to sports and building mental strength and emotional well being. Some of these benefits include stress reduction and anxiety relief, boosts in self esteem and confidence, enhancing focus and mental clarity, building emotional resilience, even building social connections and emotional support.

https://momentsinwords.com/the-psychological-benefits-of-sports-building-mental-strength-and-emotional-well-being/

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I agree with this, physical activity helps reduce tension and improve mood, making it an effective way to manage stress. Additionally, playing sports encourages teamwork, communication, and cooperation, which are essential social skills. Whether in a team setting or casual games, sports bring people together and create a sense of community.

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As an athlete, I can agree to a certain extent, playing sports releases stress and is beneficial for mental health. I love going to the fields and playing soccer with a few of my friends after a long day of school work because it makes me feel better. However, I believe that participating in competitive team sports whether it's in high school, club, or even at the college and professional level, does the opposite. This is because of the constant pressure that the coach put on the players to be perfect in every aspect of the sport and the unrealistic expectation win every game. For some people, this pressure is what motivates them to do better. Except for most other people, these expectations and constant pressure add stress and in manny cases may even be the cause of some mental health issues.

Answer 1

Participating in sports can enhance mental well-being and lead to less distress. In a study by BMC, their research resulted in data that showed " participation in sport, and especially team sports, is associated with greater mental health and psychological wellbeing in adults compared to non-participants and that higher frequency of sports participation and/or sport played at a higher level of competition, are also linked to lower levels of mental distress in adults". Along with this, it is shown that engaging in community sports improves mental satisfaction and stability. The same research supported the claim stating, "community data for adults, elite or high-performance adult athletes demonstrated higher levels of body satisfaction, self-esteem, and overall life satisfaction and reported reduced tendency to respond to distress with anger and depression." The BMC research study between mental health and sports in adults has indicated those who participate in sports, especially team sports, have better mental well-being and lower distress. Furthermore, participating in sports does promote positive mental and psychological outcomes. 

https://systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13643-023-02264-8

Answer 2

This claim is very true since playing a sports can help with your mental health and your mood. Being active and around people can play a big factor in how you feel throughout the day and there has been many studies that show that it improves your energy and physical being.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8656946/#:~:text=Sport%20participation%20and%20exercise%20practice,physical%20status%20and%20sport%20performance Also shares how being in a sport can help you mentally.

Answer 3

I completely agree with your claim. As someone who has been involved in sports their whole life it has been extremely beneficial to me and my mental health. Playing sports keeps you in shape which makes you feel better in general, another benefit being the connections you make with your teammates which may lead to lifelong friendships. To back my personal experience up, in one source I found that playing sports boosts your mood, reduces depression and stress, and increases your self-confidence. All of these being major factors in your mental health

Sources: https://www.adventhealth.com/blog/how-playing-a-sport-can-improve-your-mental-health

Answer 4

Participating in sports can have a positive impact on mental well being. Physical activity, including sports, is known to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression by releasing endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that improve mood. Additionally, sports help build self esteem, social connections, and provide a sense of accomplishment, all of which contribute to better mental health.

Source: American Psychological Association - The Mental Health Benefits of Physical Activity