Effectiveness of Sports-Based Interventions for Mental Health in At-Risk Youth: A Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2025.38.58095Keywords
Sports-based interventions, mental health, at-risk youth, anxiety, depression, PTSD, self-esteem, social skills, emotional regulation, trauma-sensitive programs.Abstract
Adolescents’ mental health is a growing public health concern, particularly for at-risk youth exposed to adverse circumstances such as poverty, trauma, discrimination, or social exclusion. These individuals face higher risk of developing mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can significantly impact their education, social interactions, and long-term well-being. Addressing these challenges requires holistic, non-stigmatizing approaches, which will be tailored to the unique needs of at risk youth. Sports-based interventions have emerged as a promising strategy to promote mental health by leveraging the psychological and social benefits of physical activity. This systematic review analyses the effectiveness of sports-based interventions in improving mental health outcomes in at-risk youth, focusing on areas such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, self-esteem, social skills, and emotional regulation.
References
1. Bethell CD, Garner AS, Gombojav N, Blackwell C, Heller L, Mendelson T. Social and Relational Health Risks and Common Mental Health Problems Among US Children. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2022;31(1):45-70. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2021.08.001
2. Schlack R, Peerenboom N, Neuperdt L, Junker S, Beyer AK. The effects of mental health problems in childhood and adolescence in young adults: Results of the KiGGS cohort. Journal of Health Monitoring. 2021;6(4):3-19. doi: https://doi.org/10.25646/8863
3. Biddle SJH, Ciaccioni S, Thomas G, Vergeer I. Physical Activity and Mental Health in Children and adolescents: An Updated Review of Reviews and an Analysis of Causality. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 2019;42(42):146-155. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.08.011
4. Eime RM, Young JA, Harvey JT, Charity MJ, Payne WR. A Systematic Review of the Psychological and Social Benefits of Participation in Sport for Children and adolescents: Informing Development of a Conceptual Model of Health through Sport. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2013;10(1):98. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-10-98
5. Spruit A, Assink M, van Vugt E, van der Put C, Stams GJ. The effects of physical activity interventions on psychosocial outcomes in adolescents: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review. 2016;45:56-71. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2016.03.006
6. World Health Organization. Mental Health of Adolescents. World Health Organization. Published October 10, 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health
7. Toews AJ, Letourneau N, Pohl C, Ruse K. Effective strategies and interventions for engaging at-risk youth: a rapid systematic review of the literature. Discover Psychology. 2024;4(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-024-00147-0
8. Colizzi M, Lasalvia A, Ruggeri M. Prevention and early intervention in youth mental health: Is it time for a multidisciplinary and trans-diagnostic model for care? International Journal of Mental Health Systems. 2020;14(1):1-14. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-020-00356-9
9. Keyes K. New Evidence of Rising Youth Mental Health Concerns. Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Published August 8, 2023. https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/news/new-evidence-rising-youth-mental-health-concerns
10. Anderson E, Shivakumar G. Effects of Exercise and Physical Activity on Anxiety. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2013;4(27). doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00027
11. Van Der Kolk B. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Penguin Books; 2015.
12. Spinazzola J, Rhodes AM, Emerson D, Earle E, Monroe K. Application of yoga in residential treatment of traumatized youth. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. 2011;17(6):431-444. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1078390311418359
13. Holt NL, Neely KC, Slater LG, et al. A grounded theory of positive youth development through sport based on results from a qualitative meta-study. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2017;10(1):1-49. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984x.2016.1180704
14. Lakes KD, Hoyt WT. Promoting self-regulation through school-based martial arts training. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. 2004;25(3):283-302. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2004.04.002
15. Twemlow SW, Biggs BK, Nelson TD, Vernberg EM, Fonagy P, Twemlow SW. Effects of participation in a martial arts-based antibullying program in elementary schools. Psychology in the Schools. 2008;45(10):947-959. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.20344
16. Diamond A, Lee K. Interventions Shown to Aid Executive Function Development in Children 4 to 12 Years Old. Science. 2011;333(6045):959-964. doi: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1204529
17. Hoffmann MD, Barnes JD, Tremblay MS, Guerrero MD. Associations between organized sport participation and mental health difficulties: Data from over 11,000 US children and adolescents. Romer D, ed. PLOS ONE. 2022;17(6):e0268583. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268583
18. Lubans D, Richards J, Hillman C, et al. Physical Activity for Cognitive and Mental Health in Youth: a Systematic Review of Mechanisms. PEDIATRICS. 2016;138(3):e20161642-e20161642. doi: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1642
19. Biddle SJH, Asare M. Physical Activity and Mental Health in Children and adolescents: a Review of Reviews. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2011;45(11):886-895. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2011-090185
20. McMahon EM, Corcoran P, O’Regan G, et al. Physical activity in European adolescents and associations with anxiety, depression and well-being. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 2016;26(1):111-122. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-016-0875-9
21. Bean C, Forneris T. Is Life Skill Development a By-Product of Sport Participation? Perceptions of Youth Sport Coaches. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. 2016;29(2):234-250. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2016.1231723
22. Jewett R, Sabiston CM, Brunet J, O’Loughlin EK, Scarapicchia T, O’Loughlin J. School Sport Participation During Adolescence and Mental Health in Early Adulthood. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2014;55(5):640-644. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.04.018
23. Tl AM, Sn O, Sharma MK, Choukse A, Hr N. Development and validation of Yoga Module for Anger Management in adolescents. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2021;61:102772. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2021.102772
24. Deblinger E, Mannarino AP, Cohen JA, Runyon MK, Steer RA. Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for children: impact of the trauma narrative and treatment length. Depression and Anxiety. 2010;28(1):67-75. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20744
25. Cumming S, Ewing M. Parental Involvement in Youth Sports: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Accessed December 4, 2024. https://laysl.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ParentsInvolvement.pdf
26. Avery JC, Morris H, Galvin E, Misso M, Savaglio M, Skouteris H. Systematic Review of School-Wide Trauma-Informed Approaches. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma. 2020;14(3). doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-020-00321-1
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Katarzyna Rowińska, Karolina Siembab, Daria Bednarczyk, Julia Białeta , Agnieszka Napieralska, Alicja Černohorská, Wiktor Garbarczyk, Michalina Jurkiewicz, Albert Kapla, Wiktoria Pysiewicz
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Stats
Number of views and downloads: 53
Number of citations: 0
