This review provides compelling evidence that organized sport participation supports psychological and social development in children and adolescents. Sport was consistently associated with higher self-esteem, greater life satisfaction, and lower symptoms of depression and anxiety, with team sports showing stronger and more consistent benefits than individual sports. Social outcomes-including enhanced belonging, prosocial behavior, and interpersonal skills-were also evident, underscoring the unique contribution of sport as a social context for development. The refined conceptual model proposed here identifies self-perceptions, peer belonging, and social support as central mechanisms, offering a developmentally informed framework for leveraging sport to promote youth mental health. These findings highlight sport, especially inclusive and well-structured team sports, as a powerful setting for fostering psychological well-being and positive social outcomes, warranting prioritization in youth development policies and programs.
Wade et al. (2026) studied this question.