In general terms, physical activity performed in groups, like team sports or fitness classes, provides greater benefits than walking, running, or lifting weights. (I’m kinda bummed about the last one. Wait…)
The following list shows how people reported feeling after a month of different activities, compared to people who were not physically active. (The result indicates the percentage of fewer poor mental health days; for example, those participating in team sports reported 22.3 percent fewer bad days than those who did not exercise.)
Team sports: 22.3 percent
Cycling: 21.6 percent
Aerobic or gym exercise: 20.1 percent (does not include indoor bikes or treadmills)
Running or jogging: 19 percent
Recreational sports: 18.9 percent
Winter or water sports: 18 percent
Walking: 17.7 percent
Household chores: 11.8 percent
It doesn’t get any better than a game of basketball. However, if you are playing with injuries it may hurt your mental health.
Children who are bad at sports are more likely to be rejected by their peers. That does nothing for good mental health , and indeed such social rejection increases the chances of having mental health problems .
But that’s not a sports problem but a competitive society situation.
I questioned for years if sports were good. But they are and it definitely helps more people than it hurts. Look at all the people who get scholarships to college to play sports, keeps them away from drugs and a more chronic alcohol abuse more times than not and is beneficial to mental health like the best says. I’ve never been jealous of athletes even when I didn’t play sports I admired their skills. And they entertain me. Yay sports.
I am glad you posted this message. I have never been a team player and so I do not do any team sports, but I cycle a lot, today 15 kilometres at least, I know that exercising helps a lot and I enjoy cycling. I do not have a car and so I use my bicycle for my transportation if I have some things to do.
If children could be taught to be more civilised about sports, i.e. not bullying or rejecting those who are not good at it(behaving like mindless hooligans) , that would make more people likely to join in with sporting activities .