Supportive Sports Environments Reduce Depression And Anxiety In Girls, New Report Shows

A new study conducted by the Women’s Sport Foundation reveals that girls’ participation in supportive sport environments can significantly lessen mental health issues, including depression and anxiety. The report, Thriving Through Sport: The Transformative Impact on Girls’ Mental Health, examined not only the relationship between sport participation and mental health, but also the types of sport environments that yield the most significant mental health benefits for participants.

Karen Issokson-Silver, Vice President, Research & Education at the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF), shared that the motivation behind the study stemmed largely from a lack of previous research and the notable increase in youth mental health issues. She noted, “though there was some existing research on the connection between sport participation and mental health, it was limited. The Women’s Sport Foundation wanted to dive deeper into the topic to better understand the relationship between sport and mental health, with a focus on girls. Importantly, we wanted to learn more about how the different conditions within sport settings impact mental health, so we could offer data-driven insights about how to support girls more holistically.”

Key Findings

Overall, the findings of this study strongly suggest that engaging in sports within high-quality environments can reduce depression and anxiety, enhance peer relationships, and provide a sense of purpose and meaning. According to Issokson-Silver, “this new report makes clear that sport is not a nice to have, but a must have. The data shows that sport can play a powerful role in improving mental health.” Several key findings from the study include:

• Mental health disorders are roughly 1.5-2.5x lower for girls who play sports once compared to girls who have never played.
• Moderate-to-high levels of depression symptoms are found in 29% of girls who have never played sports, compared to 17% of girls who currently participate.
• Among girls who have never participated in sports, 21% experience moderate to high levels of anxiety symptoms, compared to 11% of girls currently playing sports.
• Depression symptoms are notably lower (9.3%) in sport environments emphasizing effort, improvement, and teamwork, compared to settings where winning is prioritized and success is measured by outperforming others (24.7%).
• Girls currently playing sports have approximately 1.5 times higher odds of having moderate-to-high scores in peer relationships or feelings of meaning and purpose, compared to girls who have never participated in sports.
• Compared to girls involved solely in non-sport activities, those participating in sports show lower levels of depression and anxiety, as well as higher levels of peer relationships and feelings of meaning and purpose, even when considering factors like the number of activities, years engaged, and hours per week of participation.

Supportive Sport Environments

The study also identifies crucial elements within sport settings, such as levels of autonomy and the nature of coach relationships, that contribute to positive outcomes for girls. According to Issokson-Silver, “when girls have the opportunity for “voice and choice,” which means they are encouraged to express themselves, share ideas, interests, and concerns, this goes a long way to boosting their mental health. When sport settings prioritize the development of skills over time and personal goal setting, and when players are encouraged to learn from their mistakes, they thrive. This stands in contrast to sport settings in which the focus is on winning above all and where social comparisons dominate the culture and tone.”

Previous research has highlighted the adverse effects of a win-at-all-costs mindset among coaches. Environments driven by coaches’ relentless pursuit of victory often breed narcissistic leadership behaviors, impacting both employees and players negatively. This previous study indicates that when winning becomes the sole focus, leadership adopts harmful practices, prioritizing victory over all other organizational and personal goals. When considering the findings from the WSF’s report, it becomes evident that athletes, including young girls, face heightened risks of mental health issues due to these toxic win-at-all-costs cultures, which may also increase the likelihood of strained relationships with their coaches.

As noted by Issokson-Silver, “strong relationships nurture girls’ confidence and overall well-being. This includes the relationship between coaches and players and the relationships that are fostered between players and their peers. Above all, environments that are inclusive, welcoming, and create a sense of belonging are enormously supportive of positive mental health… when coaches highlight the small wins that happen every day, and not just the outcomes of competition, girls’ confidence is nurtured and reinforced. Coach training around promoting mental health is essential. We want all coaches to be equipped to help girls thrive physically and mentally.”

Policy and Practice

The insights from this study provide important avenues for policy and practice recommendations. According to Issokson-Silver, “all sport programs, regardless of the level of play, should prioritize player well-being, both in terms of physical and mental health… [the] WSF’s advocacy and community impact work is fueling this message by supporting programs through the delivery of grants, leadership training, and capacity building. A good example of that work is WSF’s Sports 4 Life program, a national initiative co-founded by ESPN and now also supported by Gatorade. The program seeks to increase the participation and retention of Black, African American, Hispanic, and Native American girls in sport to improve their physical and mental health and leadership skills. This year, Sports 4 Life is celebrating its 10-year anniversary and the outcomes from this program reflect the powerful data in the new research. We see that when sport programs are done well, girls thrive.”

Alongside policy adjustments, the landscape of women’s sport has witnessed an expansion in role modeling opportunities in recent years, which will likely increase awareness of and participation in sport. Women’s sports have seen a surge in viewership and attendance, likely fueling further increases in girls’ participation across various sports for years to come. Today’s young girls may find it challenging to recall a time when accessing their favorite teams on linear or streaming TV networks was difficult. With this surge in growth, participation opportunities in sports should consistently prioritize inclusivity, individual development, and encouragement for all participants. The undeniable advantages of high-quality sport experiences necessitate that organizations and leaders focus on cultivating supportive environments for girls in order to fully capitalize on these benefits.