The Effect of Organized Sports on Depression and Anxiety in Adolescent Athletes

Abstract

Adolescence is a time of physical and emotional changes. These can be exciting times as individuals become independent and explore who they are as they transition from childhood to adulthood. However, this time in life can also be overwhelming. Physical activity is known to reduce stress and be beneficial to overall health. However, playing organized sports can become part of a person’s identity and lead to stress, anxiety, and depression. Analysis of previous research shows that individual sport athletes suffer from depression and anxiety symptoms at higher rates than team sport athletes. Females also suffer at higher rates than males. In addition, adolescent athletes with a fear of failure increase their chances of experiencing depression and anxiety symptoms. Proper education and training are necessary for coaches to notice the signs and symptoms in order to help athletes learn to cope with their problems. The stigma surrounding mental health needs to be eliminated so that athletes feel comfortable reaching out for help. The purpose of this synthesis project was to review the literature on organized sports to see how participation is associated with depression and anxiety symptoms.