Engaging in Team Sports May Reduce Mental Health Challenges in Children

Karen Cilli serves as a fact-checker for Verywell Mind, bringing over three decades of expertise as a reference librarian and educator.

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Essential Insights

• Engagement in team sports positively impacts the mental well-being of children and adolescents, as revealed by recent research.
• This advantage likely stems from the combined social interaction and general benefits of physical activity inherent in team sports.
• Conversely, participation in individual sports may correlate with increased mental health struggles.

Recent findings highlight that children and youth involved in team sports enjoy better mental health outcomes than their peers who play individual sports or abstain from sports entirely.

The study demonstrated that team sports participants had 10% lower anxiety and depression scores and 19% fewer withdrawn or depressed behaviors compared to non-athletes.

In contrast, those engaged in individual sports exhibited 16% higher anxiety/depression and 14% higher withdrawn/depressed scores than non-participants.

The research encompassed 11,235 children aged 9 to 13, with mental health assessments provided by parents and caregivers through the Child Behavior Checklist within the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study.

Why Team Sports Enhance Mental Health

Earlier studies corroborate that team sports participation benefits mental health, even among adults who endured adverse childhood experiences, indicating benefits extend beyond youth.

This aligns with well-established evidence linking exercise to improved mental wellness.

Physical activity promotes increased cerebral blood flow and stimulates neurogenesis in certain brain regions, mechanisms believed to bolster mental health.

"Youth involvement in sports offers multifaceted health advantages—physical and mental—including reduced obesity risk, prevention of chronic illnesses, enhanced academic and cognitive performance, and fostered positive adolescent behaviors," notes Emily Pluhar, PhD, child and adolescent psychologist at Harvard Medical School.

"It also lowers the likelihood of engaging in behaviors detrimental to health and well-being," she adds.

Both team sports and general exercise support individuals managing mental health conditions and contribute to maintaining strong mental health and overall well-being.

Exercise helps reduce stress hormones, boosts self-confidence, and improves sleep quality, all crucial for mental health maintenance.

Team Sports Versus Individual Sports

While team sports show clear mental health benefits, the association of individual sports with poorer mental health outcomes is intriguing and may have several explanations.

Research indicates team sport participants often play for enjoyment, whereas individual sport athletes tend to have goal-driven motivations.

Although pre-competition nerves are normal, goal-oriented pressures in individual sports may lead to excessive self-imposed stress, adversely affecting mental health.

Additionally, individual sports may lack the social bonding and sense of belonging that team sports provide.

Emily Pluhar, PhD

"Sports participation in youth is linked to numerous physical and mental health benefits and reduces engagement in harmful activities," explains Dr. Pluhar.

Team sports help children develop essential social skills and foster group inclusion.

Though individual sports promote focus, mental resilience, and independence, losses can sometimes trigger feelings of shame or guilt.

Neil Hardy, head of learning and development at High Speed Training, emphasizes that "team sports are vital for building social connections."

"Children involved in sports interact and cooperate with coaches and peers, gaining friendships, support systems, resilience, and self-esteem," he remarks.

Limitations of Team Sports Benefits

Despite strong benefits, team sports may not suit all children.

Some children might feel excluded or bullied within team environments, or hesitate to join due to confidence or fitting-in concerns.

Neil Hardy

"Children’s preferences and needs should guide sports participation. Forcing involvement in team sports without consent rarely leads to positive outcomes," Hardy advises.

For certain youth, individual sports may better align with their needs, and these activities still offer valuable benefits.

Parents and caregivers should remain open-minded, encouraging children to explore various sports to find the best fit.

Hardy concludes, "With appropriate support and attention to each child's unique needs, sports can greatly enhance physical and mental health, social skills, and self-confidence."

Practical Takeaways

All children benefit from physical activity and sports, but preferences vary. Encourage your child to try different sports and avoid undue pressure on themselves or teammates.

Good peer interactions from an early age contribute to better mental health later in life.

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6 Sources

Verywell Mind relies on authoritative, peer-reviewed research to ensure accuracy and trustworthiness. Learn more about our editorial standards.

1. Hoffmann MD, Barnes JD, Tremblay MS, Guerrero MD. Associations between organized sport participation and mental health difficulties: Data from over 11,000 US children and adolescents. PLoS ONE. 2022;17(6):e0268583. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0268583

2. Easterlin MC, Chung PJ, Leng M, Dudovitz R. Association of team sports participation with long-term mental health outcomes among individuals exposed to adverse childhood experiences. JAMA Pediatr. 2019;173(7):681-688. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.1212

3. Thomas BP, Tarumi T, Sheng M, et al. Brain perfusion change in patients with mild cognitive impairment after 12 months of aerobic exercise training. JAD. 2020;75(2):617-631. doi:10.3233/JAD-190977

4. Anderson E, Shivakumar G. Effects of exercise and physical activity on anxiety. Front Psychiatry. 2013;4. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00027

5. Pluhar E, McCracken C, Griffith KL, Christino MA, Sugimoto D, Meehan WP. Team sport athletes may be less likely to suffer anxiety or depression than individual sport athletes. J Sports Sci Med. 2019;18(3):490-496.

6. Marracho P, Pereira AMA, Nery MVDG, Rosado AFB, Coelho EMRTDC. Is young athletes’ bullying behaviour different in team, combat or individual sports? Motricidade. 2021;17(1):70-78. doi:10.6063/motricidade.21129

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