Prospective associations between sport participation and psychological adjustment in adolescents.

Engaging in sport has been suggested to be mitigate against psychological distress. Using a prospective-longitudinal design, we examine whether sport participation is associated with reduced psychological difficulties in adolescents and whether associations differ by sport and personal characteristics. 17 550 adolescents from grade 7 to 10 (mean age=14.4 years old) self-reported on sport participation, depressive symptoms, social anxiety symptoms and loneliness in Spring 2007 and 1 year later. Analyses tested the association between sport participation and subsequent psychological difficulties using linear regression, while adjusting for pre-existing psychological and sociodemographic characteristics. Analyses also verified whether associations differed by sport frequency (weekly/more than weekly) and type (team/individual) using Wald tests of parameter constraints, as well as sex, age and pre-existing psychological difficulties using interaction terms. After adjusting for potential confounders, sport participation predicted lower social anxiety symptoms (beta=-0.02 (-0.04, -0.01)) and loneliness (beta=-0.04 (-0.05, -0.02)), but not depressive symptoms. Moderation analyses showed that sport participation predicted greater reductions in depressive symptoms, social anxiety symptoms and loneliness in adolescents with higher baseline scores on each outcome. Associations did not differ by sport frequency and type, sex and age. Post hoc analyses revealed bidirectional associations between sport participation and social anxiety symptoms and loneliness. Sport participation predicts small reductions in adolescent psychological distress. Reductions seem most important in youth experiencing greater pre-existing psychological difficulty. Our findings suggest that sport participation represents a protective factor that supports psychological resilience in at-risk youth.

Brière FN ，Yale-Soulière G ，Gonzalez-Sicilia D ，Harbec MJ ，Morizot J ，Janosz M ，Pagani LS ... -  《-》

Number of Years of Team and Individual Sport Participation During Adolescence and Depressive Symptoms in Early Adulthood.

Sabiston CM ，Jewett R ，Ashdown-Franks G ，Belanger M ，Brunet J ，O'Loughlin E ，O'Loughlin J ... -  《-》

Strength of religious faith and psychological adjustment in intercollegiate athletes.

Storch EA ，Kovacs AH ，Roberti JW ，Bailey LM ，Bravata EA ，Storch JB ... -  《PSYCHOLOGICAL REPORTS》

The Association of Sports Participation With Depressive Symptoms and Anxiety Disorder in Adolescents.

An increasing body of evidence has evidenced that physical activity is negatively associated with depression and anxiety in adolescents, although the associations between various modalities of PA with depression and anxiety have yet to be effectively explored. This study aimed to investigate the associations between sports participation and depression and anxiety among a sample of Chinese adolescents. 2,374 adolescents from eight schools were invited to participate in this survey, of whom 1,714 adolescents from grades 7, 8, 10 and 11 were included for final analysis. Depressive symptoms and anxiety disorder were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), as well as the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), respectively. Sport participation was assessed using a single question. Additionally, sociodemographic factors were assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. Ordinal logistic regression was used to estimate sport participation's associations with depressive symptoms and anxiety disorders separately, having controlled for all sociodemographic covariates. Among all study participants, those with less participation in sport-related activities had a greater likelihood of reporting depressive symptoms (Odd ratio [OR] for never = 2.07; OR for 1-3 times per month = 1.77; OR for 1-2 times per week = 1.77), as well as anxiety disorders (OR for never = 1.61; OR for 1-3 times per month = 1.69; OR for 1-2 times per week = 1.38). Encouraging adolescents to engage in more sports participation would provide an effective and feasible approach for mental health promotion. Despite this study having found promising evidence, the research findings should be replicated using more improved research with an enhanced study design. Future researchers are encouraged to design and implement sports participation interventions aimed at promoting mental health among adolescents, while future China-based studies are encouraged to replicate or negate our study findings.

Chi G ，Wang L 《Frontiers in Public Health》

Elite sport is not an additional source of distress for adolescents with high stress levels.

Gerber M ，Holsboer-Trachsler E ，Pühse U ，Brand S ... -  《PERCEPTUAL AND MOTOR SKILLS》