Social and Mental Wellbeing

Social and emotional wellbeing is a broad concept that includes mental health, community connection and an overall positive state of wellbeing. ¹

It is not just about the absence of mental illness but also relates to enjoyment of life, resilience (having the ability to ‘bounce back’ from stressors), being able to set and fulfil goals, and building and maintaining relationships with others. ¹

Children and young people

Young people who are members of local sporting clubs are more likely to: ^{9, 25, 26, 27, 28, 60}

• demonstrate greater trust in other people
• possess a stronger sense of belonging to their community
• form more close friendships
• achieve greater levels of life satisfaction, happiness and health
• possess a greater desire to give back to their community through volunteering.

Common positive benefits observed when children and young people participate in sport include: ^{9, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 50, 51, 52, 60, 61, 70, 74}

• improved wellbeing
• reduced stress and distress
• increased social functioning and vitality.

First Nations peoples

Sport can play a positive role in improving health, wellbeing, and community outcomes for First Nations individuals and communities. ^{29, 30, 55, 85, 87, 91, 92}

Sport is often cited as a positive vehicle for: ^{29, 30, 55, 85, 86, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92}

• community and cultural connectedness
• improved social and emotional wellbeing
• higher life satisfaction
• pride (personal and in their community)
• supporting delivery of non-sport programs in the wider community.

Culturally and linguistically diverse

Community sports participation by people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds has been shown to help overcome several unique challenges through: ^{33, 34, 57, 58, 59, 60, 74, 93}

• improving social supports and connection
• reducing feelings of displacement and migration stress
• challenging negative stereotypes and discrimination.

People who play sport are more likely to have mixed-ethnic friendship groups than non-participants. ⁵⁴

People with disability

Sport can have significant social and mental wellbeing benefits for people with disability — both directly and through changing perceptions. ^{24, 45, 102, 103, 104, 107}

Frequently cited benefits include: ^{36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 60, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106}

• improved quality of life
• better psychological and mental wellbeing, moods, and sleep
• increased social inclusion and social skills
• opportunities for fun and social and community engagement
• improved self-confidence and self-efficacy.

Sexuality and gender diverse

Sport participation can play a positive role in the lives of LGBTIQ+ people, including helping to develop protective social and mental wellbeing factors. For the most benefits participant experiences need to be enjoyable, with outcomes they feel are important for them. ^{75, 76, 77, 78, 80, 81, 82}

Most frequently, sport and physical activity are cited as positive vehicles for improved: ^{75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 82, 83, 84}

• sense of community and belonging
• Mental health and wellbeing
• social interactions, including peer support and developing friendships
• feelings of achievement and confidence
• oppportunity to be one’s authentic self.