Psychosocial development and mental health in youth Brazilian club athletes: examining the effects of age, sport type, and training experience

Abstract

Physical activity occurring through organized sport has been positioned as an engaging manner not only to prevent chronic-degenerative diseases but also to promote healthier societies. However, there is a lack of evidence linking competitive sport participation in the club environment in promoting youth athletes’ psychosocial development and mental health. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the effects of age, sport type, and training experience on the psychosocial development and mental health of youth Brazilian club athletes. Participants were 220 male adolescent athletes (Mean =14.09 years; SD = 2.21) from individual and team sports. Instruments included the Portuguese Youth Experience Survey for Sport (P-YES-S) and the Portuguese Mental Health Continuum – Short Form (P-MHC-SF). Correlation and multilevel linear regression analyses were performed. The results indicated a moderated correlation between both questionnaires. For the P-YES-S, model effect estimations showed variation for age in the Personal and Social Skills dimension and variations for training experience in the Cognitive Skills and Negative Experiences dimensions. For the P-MHC-SF, model effect estimations showed variation for age in the Emotional Well Being dimension and variation for sport type in Social Well Being and Psychological Well Being dimensions. More research is needed to continue examining how characteristics of sport participation are related to psychosocial development and mental health.

Developmental assets and positive youth development in Brazilian university students

“…Regarding the mental health of young people, studies have confirmed that the development of accepting and mutually beneficial relationships, as well as the construction of a sense of participation and contribution, have been effective in the feeling of psychological well-being when faced with difficulties, in promoting health, and in predicting mental disorders ( Fonte et al, 2017 ; Schotanus-Dijkstra et al, 2017 ; Milistetd et al, 2021 ). Longitudinal data have indicated that psychological well-being prevents the first incidence of mental disorders, as well as playing a protective role in the development of any DSM-IV disorder ( Schotanus-Dijkstra et al, 2017 ).…”

“…Longitudinal data have indicated that psychological well-being prevents the first incidence of mental disorders, as well as playing a protective role in the development of any DSM-IV disorder ( Schotanus-Dijkstra et al, 2017 ). Age also seems to contribute to higher levels of positive mental health, as younger individuals had higher rates of positive mental health ( Fonte et al, 2017 ; Milistetd et al, 2021 ). A hypothesis for these findings was raised by Milistetd et al (2021) , in a study with young Brazilian athletes (e.g., swimmers, judokas, tennis players, basketball players, etc.…”

“…Age also seems to contribute to higher levels of positive mental health, as younger individuals had higher rates of positive mental health ( Fonte et al, 2017 ; Milistetd et al, 2021 ). A hypothesis for these findings was raised by Milistetd et al (2021) , in a study with young Brazilian athletes (e.g., swimmers, judokas, tennis players, basketball players, etc. ), which indicated that this phenomenon may be related to the lower level of pressure that the younger athletes (10–13 years of age) experienced, as they are in different developmental stages, with less training, less competitive demands and lower performance expectations.…”

“…in which young people are inserted. Consequently, it is this combined influence that must be considered when thinking about youth development ( Benson et al, 1999 ; Lerner, 2005 ; Milistetd et al, 2021 ). In the case of young Brazilians who play sports, regardless of the type of sport they play, psychosocial development and mental health have more to do with the promotion of quality sporting experiences provided by people who care for the players as a whole and not just as athletes ( Milistetd et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Consequently, it is this combined influence that must be considered when thinking about youth development ( Benson et al, 1999 ; Lerner, 2005 ; Milistetd et al, 2021 ). In the case of young Brazilians who play sports, regardless of the type of sport they play, psychosocial development and mental health have more to do with the promotion of quality sporting experiences provided by people who care for the players as a whole and not just as athletes ( Milistetd et al, 2021 ). In addition to sport, the development and maintenance of this type of experience through social skills (e.g., asking for help, expressing feelings, listening empathically, initiating and maintaining conversations, eye contact, intonation and volume of voice, etc.)…”