Research on How Sports Help Kids’ Self-Esteem and Emotional Health

A study in Frontiers for Young Minds involving 4,000 children examined how sports affect kids’ emotions. The researchers found that kids who played sports had fewer emotional problems — like feeling sad, anxious, or worried — compared to kids who didn’t play sports.

This led the researchers to ask: Why does sports participation help? They considered several possibilities, including brain changes, better sleep, and strong friendships, but only one clear answer stood out: self-esteem.

Self-esteem is the way kids see themselves and how much they believe in their own worth. The study found that playing sports helped boost their self-esteem.

Sports give children a chance to improve their skills, feel proud of their efforts, and feel more confident — and that confidence helps protect their mental health.

Understanding the Research

The goal of this study was to understand how and why playing sports can help kids feel better emotionally. The researchers wanted to find out if being active protects kids from emotional problems as they grow.

This research came from a large, long-term study called Generation R, which began in the Netherlands between 2002–2004. It followed over 4,000 children from before birth all the way through their teenage years. The researchers collected information at different ages.

Many types of physical activity were considered. These included walking or biking to school, playing outside, physical education at school, and organized sports.

Here’s what they found: 

• Only sports, not other forms of physical activity, were clearly linked to fewer emotional problems by the time the kids reached their teenage years.
• Children who played sports at age 6 were more likely to feel emotionally better at age 13. Other activities (such as walking to school or playing outside) did not show the same benefits.
• After looking at factors like brain changes, healthy habits (like sleep), and friendships, only self-esteem made a clear difference. This is because playing sports helps increase confidence, and confidence helps with handling difficult emotions.

Practical Strategies for Parents and Caregivers

As we’ve learned from the study, sports can make a real difference — and the earlier kids get involved, the better. If your child is around 6 years old or older, now is a great time to explore a sport they might enjoy!

Here are three ways to support them:

Allow them to choose

Support your child in picking a sport that excites them. Pay attention to what they enjoy during playtime. Do they like running, dancing, climbing, or working in a team?

Try out a few low-pressure classes or watch different sports together to see what catches their interest. Let them take the lead so that they will feel invested from the start.

Be involved

Your support matters more than you might realize. Cheer from the sidelines, practice together at home, or simply ask about their favorite part of practice to show your child that you’re in it with them.

Being involved shows your child that you value their effort, not just the outcome. This kind of support can help them feel proud of their progress and even strengthen the bond you share.

Help them reflect on what they’re learning in sports

Conversations about patience, resilience, and teamwork can help your child see how much they’re growing as a person. Ask questions like: “What helped you keep going when it got tough?” or “What’s something you’re proud of from practice today?”

As they recognize their strengths through these moments of reflection, they’ll feel more confident in themselves.

The researchers suggest that using tools like fitness watches in future studies may give a clearer picture of how physical activity supports children’s mental health.

Want to help your child build more confidence off the field, too? Check out our Self-Esteem Worksheets!