Remember, just a year ago, tennis champion Naomi Osaka gave up Roland Garros by revealing the depression she was suffering from. Well, this suffering could have a direct link with the practice of this individual sport. This is revealed by an American study published this week. The details of Géraldine Zamansky, journalist at the Magazine de la Santé on France 5.
franceinfo: Californian researchers have shown that certain sports have a negative effect on mental health?
Geraldine Zamansky: Exactly, and this study should alert us all the more as it concerns children and adolescents. Its lead author, Matt Hoffman of California State University, told me how surprised they were by the results of questionnaires on children’s mental health, sent to the parents of 11,235 young Americans aged 9 to 13 years. Because they thought that the practice of any sport in a club would be positive and that there would just be variations between individual sports and collective sports.
Well according to their investigation, not at all. Young people engaged in individual sports practice suffer more from anxiety, depression, sociability and attention problems than those who do not play sports at all. And the result is exactly the opposite with team sports.
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How do they explain this “mental toxicity” of sports like tennis or gymnastics?
The main assumption is that the performance requirement then rests entirely on the child or adolescent. If the pressure is too strong, it can become a real source of anxiety and fragility.
So be careful, Matt Hoffman made it clear to me that the children in the study were not in great pain (like Naomi Osaka). But it is for him the opportunity to remember that at this age, sport must remain a pleasure. Coaches and parents must take care of this by not always demanding success. And taking a break if signs of excessive stress appear.
This type of risk would therefore be reduced by playing football or basketball?
Yes, because the group is then protective in the face of the stakes of a competition. We lose or we win together. In addition, these sports generally promote positive social relations and a feeling of solidarity with teammates. That too is rather protective, especially in the face of the difficulties of adolescence.
But beware, a group can also choose a scapegoat and become very cruel on the field, as in the locker room. So sorry, dear parents, whatever sport your child chooses, you must always be vigilant! If he doesn’t want to go anymore, it may not be lazy. Take the time to talk and check that this physical activity remains beneficial!