Overview

• A Swedish longitudinal study of over 16,000 children found that organized sports participation at age 11 reduces the risk of mental health disorders by 23% in boys and 12% in girls per weekly hour of participation.
• Physical activity in boys showed broader protective effects, reducing risks of depression, anxiety, and addiction starting as early as age 5, while girls saw a more limited benefit, primarily against depression at age 11.
• On average, daily physical activity levels declined from 4.2 hours at age 5 to 2.5 hours by age 11, coinciding with increased vulnerability to psychiatric disorders.
• Time spent outdoors showed no significant association with mental health outcomes, underscoring the unique value of structured activities like organized sports.
• Researchers and health experts are urging policymakers to prioritize organized sports in public health strategies to combat rising rates of childhood and adolescent mental illness globally.