Sport has a positive effect on the psyche of adolescents. However, a few guidelines must be observed.
Illustration Pauline Martinet / NZZ
The idea that sport is good for children’s psyche is not only widespread, but also scientifically proven. Numerous studies from recent years have concluded that sport has a positive effect on the self-esteem of children and young people.
The effect is strongest for “athletic self-esteem,” says developmental psychologist Laura Dapp from the University of Konstanz, whose research focuses on this area. “Global self-esteem,” i.e. general self-esteem, is also strengthened, but to a lesser extent.
Research has not yet provided any conclusive answers to the question of how often, how intensively and what you should train to increase your self-esteem. “Even if you try to approach these questions, I suspect that there will never be a clear answer; too many individual factors come into play,” says Dapp. She therefore recommends choosing a sport that you enjoy and that helps you pursue your personal goals.
Losing together helps the psyche
More is known about the influence of the general conditions. “When it comes to the direct positive effects of sport on self-esteem, research clearly speaks in favor of team sports,” says Dapp. This is explained by the cooperative nature. “You win together, you lose together – and team sports have a self-esteem-protecting effect, especially when you lose.” Responsibility is shared, and defeat is dealt with together. This counteracts problematic attribution of failures such as “it’s my fault, I always lose anyway.”
It also plays a role whether the sport is initiated by the student themselves or carried out in a club. A spontaneous game of football on the school field after class is good and important for development. “However, research shows that club sport in particular has a positive effect on self-esteem,” says Dapp.
The most important reason for this is probably the systematic approach to support: in the club, skills develop better and faster, which has a positive effect on self-perception. “In addition, the children gain the valuable experience of improving through targeted practice, which they can transfer to other areas of life such as school.”
The positive effect of group training has also been proven for adults. Pilates classes with others and under professional supervision and fitness sequences in the studio have a stronger effect on self-esteem than training on the mat in the living room.
Whether the social status of a sport also has an impact, i.e. whether it plays a role whether you surf or play fistball, has not been sufficiently investigated. In general, research shows that social status correlates weakly but significantly with self-esteem, says Dapp. “In theory, this also makes sense for sports that are associated with high prestige.”
At the same time, however, there are always effects within comparison groups. Synchronized swimmers compare themselves with each other just like footballers. According to Dapp, the level at which a sport is practiced is more important for self-esteem: “Top athletes have a higher physical self-concept than recreational athletes.”
Because of the tendency to compare, Dapp recommends always training in a group that has a similar level. After all, who wants to always be at the bottom of the list? Club sports are also a good option here, with leagues that always sort players by performance.
Problematic body cult
The question of how sport affects body image is difficult, even for research. Sports such as fitness and jogging, which are all about shaping the figure, are increasing significantly among young people. This applies to both sexes. According to Dapp, however, there has not yet been sufficient evidence of a positive effect on satisfaction with appearance, as one would intuitively expect.
One reason for this may be the research design, says Dapp. You have to be careful not to confuse cause and effect. When asked whether young women in fitness centers are happy with their appearance, they are more likely to answer no than those who do not exercise.
Stress relief, good figure, healthy lifestyle: why children do sports
The vast majority of children and young people do sport regularly, and not a little bit: According to the Study Sport Switzerland According to 2020, the last major survey on the subject, 10- to 14-year-olds are physically active for an average of 7.5 hours per week. For 15- to 19-year-olds, the figure is 6.5 hours. Only 12 percent of younger people and 18 percent of older people are physically inactive.
Boys still do more sport than girls, although the gender gap has narrowed in recent decades. Where you live also plays a role: more sport is done in rural areas than in cities, which has to do with the status of sports clubs.
When asked why they do sports, children say it’s fun and social. Young people also give other reasons, such as a healthy lifestyle and a good figure. Stress relief is also often mentioned as a reason.
The hit list of sports is changing in a similar way: among 15- to 19-year-old males, strength and fitness training have (cumulatively) overtaken football, the clear number one sport for boys. Among young women, health and physical activity are also increasing, with one in three jogging, while among 10- to 14-year-olds, this figure is less than one in ten.
The transition from one school to another is a tricky time for physical activity. The number of non-athletes doubles between primary and secondary school. At the end of compulsory schooling, the proportion of very sporty young people (who do more than 7 hours of sport per week) falls from 50 to 33 percent.
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