{"id":122,"date":"2020-09-09T04:26:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-09T04:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enlightenment-demo.onedesigns.com\/blog\/?p=122"},"modified":"2020-10-07T01:37:09","modified_gmt":"2020-10-07T01:37:09","slug":"playing-football-can-improve-mental-health-new-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enlightenment-demo.onedesigns.com\/blog\/2020\/09\/09\/playing-football-can-improve-mental-health-new-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Playing football can improve mental health \u2013 new research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Playing football is a good way to get physically fit. But our new study<\/a> shows that a regular kick about can also lead to improved mental health, social confidence and a sense of purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we explored the impact of the beautiful game on people with mental health challenges, many of the players we spoke to said their weekly games improved stress and anxiety levels. One commented:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

I think when you have the adrenalin pumping it kind of flushes out any kind of negative emotions and stuff you have, almost like you kind of sweat it out.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Another said they went home after a game feeling \u201cmuch more relaxed\u201d, adding: \u201cIt would be great to do it every day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other benefits included social connections, which some of the players we spoke to had previously struggled with. It appeared that football was instrumental in providing a common interest for players and coaches, and a subsequent bond. One player said: \u201cYou talk about what has happened on the field. That is what the ice breaker is. I think that is where people gain their confidence then to talk to new people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another powerful element was the way in which becoming part of a team, sharing a pitch and a spirit helped to normalise their feelings and allowed them to build connections to each other as individuals and as members of a team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The players we spoke to were mainly young men, for whom mental health problems are a particular issue. Suicide, for example, has been the leading cause of death for men aged under 34 in the UK since 2001<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For our study, participants attended weekly 90-120 minute football sessions, held by four professional and semi-professional clubs working with a mental health anti-stigma programme<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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