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ABSTRACT
This study examined the relationship between children's sports participation and emotional well-being including self-reported emotional and behavioral problems and multidimensional aspects of self-concept. Data were collected from 203 young adolescents using a multitrait-multimethod assessment methodology. Information was obtained using a sports questionnaire concerning participation in and perceptions of sporting activities. Emotional well-being was assessed by the Youth Self-Report (Achenbach, 1991) and the Self-Perception Profile for Children (Harter, 1985). The study found that increased levels of sports participation had a positive relationship with aspects of emotional and behavioral well-being, particularly self-concepts. Results also showed that children with increased perceptions of sport-related competencies reported significantly fewer emotional and behavioral problems than did children who were, by external standards (e.g., teacher rating, number of sporting achievements), actually competent at sport. The study also found particular areas of sports participation to be positively associated with self-concept. Evidence suggests a similar beneficial association with some aspects of behavior problems. Practical implications of the findings are discussed along with recommendations for future research.
Exercise and sports participation has been established as an important factor in reducing the risk of many physical problems such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and obesity (Schiffman, 1994). Current research suggests that sustained exercise may also enhance psychological or emotional well-being as it is often called, and therefore can be used as an additional therapy in the treatment of some psychological disorders (Pelham, Campagna, Ritvo, & Birnie, 1993). The most consistent message derived from the adult literature is that, kept within healthful limits, there is often a positive relationship between exercise and emotional well-being, generally confirming the "feel good" effect often reported by regular exercisers (Kremer & Scully, 1994).
The literature in the area of sport, exercise, and emotional well-being has focused primarily on the relationship between exercise, sports participation and anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and more recently on psychosocial stress (Biddle, 1992). Since these are among the most common problems brought to the attention of mental health professionals, the idea that exercise and sports participation may alleviate some emotionally related problems and improve self-concept is appealing.
Exercise has been found to improve mood in adults including alleviating many forms of depression (Schiffman, 1994; Cox, 1994; North, McCullagh, & Tran, 1990; Weinberg & Gould, 1995)....