Univ. Of Fla. Study: Sports Participation Has Mental Perks For All

March 7, 2001

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In a survey involving nearly 13,000 people — one of the largest studies of its kind — University of Florida researchers have found that athletes have better images of their own bodies than do nonathletes, regardless of sport, gender or expertise.

Because athletic participation across all levels is related to more positive body images, playing sports may be an effective way to reduce body dissatisfaction and boost mental health, said Heather Hausenblas, an assistant professor in UF’s department of exercise and sport sciences and the lead author of the study, which was presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology.

“It may be that people with body dissatisfaction can use sport and exercise as an intervention rather than dieting, which can often be unhealthy and often doesn’t work,” Hausenblas said. “Physical activity can be a viable option. When you’re involved in physical activity, you’ll get physical and psychological benefits.

“There’s a whole host of reasons why this happens,” she said. “Part of it is sports participation. Being on a team or working out with a group has a lot of positive effects on people. The psychological benefits of exercise generally include higher self-esteem, which trickles down to body image satisfaction.”

Hausenblas and graduate student Danielle Symons Downs reviewed 82 studies of athletes and body image from the United States, Canada, Norway, England, Germany and Italy. Many of the studies showed that competitive athletes had better body images than recreational athletes, but both groups had better body images than non-athletes.

Overall, Hausenblas said, the studies indicate that athletes are 20 percent more likely than nonathletes to have good self-images.

“Unfortunately, society has a great influence on what is considered the ideal body type,” Hausenblas says. “Currently for women, the ideal physique is fit and lean. For men, it is fit and muscular. Athletes seem to fit this society ideal the best.”

Sports participation also can help children to feel good about themselves, which will establish a pattern of positive feelings that will stay with them through the difficult years of adolescence.

“Get your kids involved in sports at a young age, and don’t focus on winning but on having fun and learning new things,” Hausenblas said. “If you focus on winning, your child may feel like a failure when he or she loses, and he or she will get discouraged and lose the fun in playing. Winning is an external motivator, and you need to make it internal. People who participate in athletics tend to have higher self-esteem, which can be really helpful to your child.”

Even people who haven’t exercised in years should take up some form of physical activity to improve both their mental and physical health, Hausenblas said.

“Exercise can be used in every group to promote psychological well-being and satisfaction,” Hausenblas said. “It can be something as simple as turning off the television and going for a walk, gardening or doing house cleaning.”

In fact, said John Russell, president of the California-based American Fitness Association, even small doses of exercise can benefit the body in ways many people don’t often think of.

“Even something as simple as a brisk walk can be extremely beneficial,” he said. “Of course there are cardiovascular benefits, but it’s also been shown that exercise can alter your mood by releasing endorphins in your body. This may account in part for the idea of better body image. If you’re in a better mood, you’ll feel better about yourself.”