Flinders University mental health and sports researchers are researching the advantages of school-aged students engaging in sports and physical activities.

They say the profound influence on mental wellbeing often takes a back seat compared to acknowledgement of the transformative impact of sports on physical health.

Recent research substantiates the multifaceted benefits of sports, illustrating its potential to shape a promising future for young minds by enhancing both their physical and mental capabilities, say junior sport and coaching experts Associate Professor Sam Elliott and Associate Professor Shane Pill, from the Sport, Health, Activity, Performance and Exercise (SHAPE) Research Centre at Flinders.

“Throughout the height of the COVID-19 pandemic – where many young people’s mental health declined – it was found that individuals involved in both team and individual sport reported significantly better general and physical health compared to those involved in individual only sports or physical activity throughout the pandemic,” says Associate Professor Elliott.

“In addition, male youth fared better than female youth in terms of mental health.

“Team-based sport may encourage increased time in physical activity and/or social interactions, which potentially buffers against declining health outcomes due to pandemic restrictions.”

He says research has found that sporting clubs have enormous potential to positively enhance the general health of young people’s general mental health and wellbeing.

“We also know that youth sporting clubs are eager to transform into sites of mental health promotion.

“Many clubs are already embarking on initiatives such as awareness-raising activities, education and first aid training, to support their young members and wider community. But many also require tailored support, leadership and access to contextually relevant resources.”

In South Australia, a mental fitness charter was developed last year in collaboration with the Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation and Sport SA to provide a holistic framework of mental health resources which has the potential to help clubs take the first step in transforming into a site for mental health promotion.

“Strong leadership and advocacy over a sustained period can certainly help maximise the feasibility of sporting clubs as (mental) health promoting settings.”

Associate Professor Pill says “school sport involvement during adolescence can be a statistically significant predictor of lower depressive symptoms, lower perceived stress, and higher self rated mental health”.

“There is a strong and positive interconnection between physical activity and children and youth mental health outcomes. School and community sport participation can therefore play an important role in promoting mental health and wellbeing,” he says.

“Research suggests school sport involvement during adolescence can be a statistically significant predictor of lower depressive symptoms, lower perceived stress, and higher self-rated mental health.”

“Sport settings that foster social-emotional learning are more likely to enable positive mental health and wellbeing. For this reason, at Flinders University we have developed the Big Talks for Little People in Sport mental health education program.”

The Big Talks for Little People in Sport mental health education program is based on the award-winning and evidence based on the Big Talks for Little People primary school program developed through the support of Breakthrough and Little Heroes Foundations.

The primary school program has been shown to enable primary school students to better understand their mental health and to enhance their wellbeing.

Primary school age children playing sport are targeted to promote early mental health intervention and prevention as research acknowledges the positive impact of prevention through education on the mental health of young people when it enables them to understand their emotions and deal more effectively with problems that they may encounter.

“The three-session program for junior sport uses a digital platform with scenario-based animations to initiate mental health education and encourage a whole of club approach to supporting mental health.”

Flinders University’s College of Education, Psychology and Social Work SHAPE Research Centre will host the inaugural National Youth Sport Conference 2023 at Flinders University’s Tonsley campus on 16-17 November. The forum is for academic researchers, industry and government organisations and higher degree research students to exchange new knowledge and improve programs.