![]() According to the Office of Applied Studies, reports of major depressive episodes in youth ages 12-17 have increased (27) and according to Pratt and Brody (22), participation in sport helps to promote psychological benefits by reducing anxiety and depression. In recent data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2005-2010), 34.6% of adults over 20 years old were obese and 7.2% had depression, based on symptoms over the two weeks prior to the survey (22). ![]() By instilling lifetime skills through precollege sport participation, perhaps some of the negative effects one experiences in college, such as low self-esteem and depression, can be negated. Physical self-esteem, or physical self-concept in particular is greatly affected during adolescence, when bodies are rapidly changing physically and hormonally (4). Adolescence is a transitional period, which can be challenging for boys and girls and as a result they may suffer low self-esteem especially in terms of physical appearance, athletic competence, and academic competence (15). He also stated that sport participation contributes to positive development of mind and body leading to higher self-confidence, and self-esteem (30). For instance, Talbot (30) asserted that involvement in sports can help children develop respect for their body as well as respect for others. Specifically, a lack of sports and physical activity has been linked to increasing physical and psychological ailments such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low self-esteem, and poor mental health including anxiety and depression (2) which tend to surface in adolescence and worsen throughout one’s life.Īccording to Bailey (1), participants in physical education and sports experience several benefits. The positive influence of sports and physical activity are widely recognized as directly combatting and preventing obesity and its related health issues (12). Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health issues of the 21st century (35). These staggering statistics are most concerning since physical activity significantly declines through childhood and adolescence (12). ![]() Approximately 3.2 million deaths occur each year that are attributable to insufficient physical activity. According to the World Health Organization (36), globally, around 31% of adults aged 51 and older were not sufficiently active in 2008. ![]() The rise in adolescent and adult obesity has been well documented in literature as a widespread epidemic over the last two decades. Keywords: sport participation, early sport participation, youth and adolescent sport participation, athletic participation, self-esteem, happiness, depression, subjective well-being This study found that a lifetime of sport participation beginning in youth and adolescence improved physical and psychological well-being of individuals as they enter young adulthood. Data were collected in the spring and summer 2017 semesters using survey questionnaires which included the Rosenberg Self-esteem scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and demographic questions. Spearman’s Rank Correlation and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that of the 514 college students surveyed, those who participated in sports prior to college reported higher self-esteem and happiness than non-sport participants. ![]() The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-esteem and happiness with participation in sports prior to college. Effects of Early Sport Participation on Self-esteem and Happiness Wayne, NJ Nandini Mathur Collins is an Adjunct Professor at William Paterson University and Southern New Hampshire University and she is also an alumni of the United States Sports Academy. ![]()
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