Promoting mental health among young males in sporting contexts: A systematic review

Jasmine M Petersen; Murray Drummond; Kate Rasheed; Sam Elliott; Claire Drummond; James A Smith; Ben Wadham; Ivanka Prichard

doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102551

Promoting mental health among young males in sporting contexts: A systematic review

Psychol Sport Exerc. 2024 Jan:70:102551. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102551. Epub 2023 Oct 20.

Authors

Jasmine M Petersen¹, Murray Drummond², Kate Rasheed², Sam Elliott², Claire Drummond³, James A Smith⁴, Ben Wadham⁵, Ivanka Prichard⁶

Affiliations

¹ College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; SHAPE Research Centre, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: Jasmine.petersen@flinders.edu.au.
² College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; SHAPE Research Centre, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
³ SHAPE Research Centre, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
⁴ Rural and Remote Health, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
⁵ College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
⁶ SHAPE Research Centre, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

PMID: 37866686
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102551

Abstract

Background: Young males experience markedly poorer mental health outcomes. Organised sport settings provide novel prospects to improve the mental health of this subpopulation.

Aim: This systematic review aimed to evaluate interventions targeted at the promotion of mental health and wellbeing among young males in organised sporting contexts.

Methods: Six databases (SportDiscus, PsycInfo, Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL) were searched from inception to June 2022 (and updated in September 2023). Eligible studies examined interventions targeting the mental health and wellbeing (e.g., depression, anxiety, resilience) or mental health literacy (e.g., stigmatising attitudes, help-seeking) of young males aged 10-24 years (or associated stakeholder samples; e.g., parents or coaches of male youth).

Results: A total of 15 studies were included in this review. Overall, the findings indicate promising effects of sport-based interventions on the mental health and mental health literacy outcomes of young males.

Conclusions: This review suggests that there is scope to improve the capacity of sports-based interventions to affect positive change in the mental health of male youth. The findings from this review also have important implications for the development and evaluation of sports-based interventions targeted at young males in future.

Keywords: Males; Mental health; Mental health literacy; Sport; Wellbeing; Young men.

Publication types

Systematic Review
Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Health Literacy*
Humans
Male
Mental Health
Sports* / psychology