Doctors are always trying to figure out ways to encourage their patients to be more active. Even a minimum of physical activity on a regular basis is proven to have a considerable impact on overall physical and mental health, quality of life, and even how long we live.
Team sports are an excellent way to up your physical activity. When we enjoy the physical activity, we are more likely to keep at it, which is great. But there are other reasons that team sports are an especially good way to take care of ourselves. Read on to find out why.
Team Versus Individual Sports
A recent expert review of over 8,500 research articles found that adults who participated in any form of sport, whether team or individual, had improved mental and physical health and experienced social benefits. However, the data clearly show that those who participate in team sports have better health outcomes than those who do individual sports or just regular exercise. They also found that increasing the frequency of participation in team sports increased the benefits. These benefits were seen in all age groups and genders but especially in youths and older adults.
Mental Health Benefits
Clinical research has demonstrated that compared to individual sports or exercise, team sports have a significant positive effect on our mental health. These effects on our overall psychological well-being include the following:
- Higher self-esteem
- Improved life satisfaction
- Reduced levels of depression
- Reduced anxiety
- Better resilience to stress
- Improved health-related quality of life
- Better body satisfaction
- More frequent laughter
- Positive mental energy
Other studies have shown that team sports participation among youths is protective against future mental health problems, including those who have suffered adverse childhood experiences.
Social Benefits
Medical science recognizes the sizable impact of social health on our wellness. Medical professionals no longer define health as the absence of disease but now recognize that our overall health includes our biological, psychological, and social health. When someone is ill, all three aspects are addressed. This is referred to as the “biopsychosocial” model of care.
Research has established that our social connections affect our physical and mental well-being. Having quality social ties is significantly protective against various illnesses and promotes all-around health, quality of life, and longevity.
More than ever social isolation and loneliness have become woefully prevalent. This recent increase in social isolation is considered a serious public health concern due to the strong role of social connections in maintaining health and fighting illness.
One way to improve our social connectedness is through team sports. Studies have shown that team sports are associated with improved social outcomes, such as:
- Better self-control
- Better pro-social behavior
- Improved interpersonal communication
- A stronger sense of belonging
These social attributes improve the quality of our social connections, which is impactful for our health outcomes. After all, it’s not the number of social connections that matters but the quality of those connections.
The “Health Through Sport” Model
The “Health Through Sport” model is an approach to better health that takes advantage of the strong relationship between sport participation and various aspects of our physical, mental, and social health. The model leverages research findings to emphasize team sports over individual sports or exercise and encourages ongoing participation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also recognized the strong association between sport and all aspects of health and well-being. To this end, the WHO has created its own version of Health Through Sport, which it calls the “WHO Sport for Health Programme.” The WHO program emphasizes sport on a worldwide basis as a pillar of health.
It’s Just Plain Fun
Team sports are just plain fun. The mixture of the thrill of the competition, making new friends, the stress relief that comes with physical activity, having a sense of camaraderie and belonging, and the experience of working toward a common goal with others all come together to make team sports an enjoyable and even addictive pastime.
One of the reasons that many people do not meet even the basic recommended level of physical activity is that they find exercise boring or hard. Or they believe it means joining a gym, which is not enjoyable for them. When we enjoy our choice of physical activity, we are far more likely to sustain it and make it part of our lifestyle.
Take-Home Message
Participation in team sports is strongly associated with improved health in all three dimensions of the biopsychosocial model of health. Although (usually) all sports and physical exercise are to our benefit, these benefits are enhanced when we choose team sports over individual sports or exercise. Nearly every community has opportunities for team sports, so why not look into it and see if there are any local team sports that interest you? You just might make some new friends and be healthier for it!
*Note: All individuals should discuss with their healthcare provider prior to taking on any new exercise program. Some health conditions may warrant caution.
