Sports Therapy and Refugees in Conflict Settings

Refugees in conflict settings often face numerous psychological and social challenges that can often lead to trauma, anxiety, and disrupted development, particularly among adolescents. Despite this, mental and social health assistance and interventions have been forgotten, particularly in developing regions and areas of conflict where it is most needed. This paper examines the use of sports or sports therapy to address the mental and social health of refugees and people in conflict zones. It reviews existing literature highlighting the benefits that sports can provide to mental well-being, social cohesion, and self-concept, while also discussing limitations such as vague definitions of “social cohesion.” Through case studies and organization examples, the paper shows how sports have been successfully utilized in certain aspects, such as encouraging friendships and positive social interactions, and positive emotions. The paper also discusses the “make or break” factor for sports therapy to properly work: the need for the sports and methods to be contextually appropriate for the population. Overall, the findings show that sports therapy can significantly benefit refugee mental and social health only if the project is planned and executed in a context specific manner and that further research is needed to better understand the long-term impact of sports or sports therapy on refugee populations.