Sports Participation as a Protective Factor Against Depression and Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents as Mediated by Self-Esteem and Social Support

Lindsay A. Bornheimer · James E. Gangwisch

293 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics

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Suicide and Self-Harm Studies Physical Activity and Health Sports and Physical Education Studies

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Participation in sports has been shown to be protective against depression and suicidal ideation, but little is known about what factors mediate these relationships. No previous studies examined potential mediators between sports participation and suicidal ideation and only one study explored possible mediators between sports participation and depression. Increased sports participation could protect against depression and suicidal ideation by increasing endogenous endorphin levels, boosting self-esteem, improving body image, increasing social support, and affecting substance abuse. METHOD: Multivariate hierarchical logistic regression analyses of Add Health data to explore whether increased participation in sports (none, 1-2, 3-4, or 5 or more times per week) is associated with depression and suicidal ideation and whether exercise, self-esteem, body weight, social support, and substance abuse mediate these relationships. RESULTS: As sports participation increases, the odds of suffering from depression decreases by 25% (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.70-0.82) and the odds of having suicidal ideation decreases by 12% (OR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.83-0.93) after controlling for sex, age, race/ethnicity, public assistance, and physical limitations. Substance abuse, body weight, and exercise did not mediate these associations. Consistent with self-esteem and social support acting as mediators of these relationships, the inclusion of these variables in the multivariate models attenuated the associations for depression (OR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.75-0.91) and suicidal ideation (OR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.88-0.99). CONCLUSION: Adolescents should be offered ample opportunity and encouragement to participate in sports, which can protect against depression and suicidal ideation by boosting self-esteem and increasing social support.

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References

1977The CES-D Scale 1991The use of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in adolescents and young adults 1991Screening for Adolescent Depression: A Comparison of Depression Scales 2000Sports Participation and Health-Related Behaviors Among US Youth 1992The Role of Sports as a Social Status Determinant for Children 2003The Dynamic Properties of Social Support: Decay, Growth, and Staticity, and Their Effects on Adolescent Depression

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2017Physical activity and suicidal ideation: A systematic review and meta-analysis 2012Daily Morning Running for 3 Weeks Improved Sleep and Psychological Functioning in Healthy Adolescents Compared With Controls 2013Risk and Protective Factors that Distinguish Adolescents Who Attempt Suicide from Those Who Only Consider Suicide in the Past Year 2014Social Anxiety Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation in a Clinical Sample of Early Adolescents: Examining Loneliness and Social Support as Longitudinal Mediators 2019Association of Team Sports Participation With Long-term Mental Health Outcomes Among Individuals Exposed to Adverse Childhood Experiences 2012Adolescents' exercise and physical activity are associated with mental toughness

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