EXAMINING THE EFFECTS OF SPORTS PARTICIPATION ON YOUTHS' EMOTIONAL REGULATION ABILITIES

Abstract

Ever since its prehistoric beginnings, sports has rocketed in popularity over the thousands of years. This age-old activity is one which undoubtedly provides numerous gains to its participants - improved physical fitness, increase in social skills and acquisition of moral values to name a few. However, as beneficial as it may be, existing literature has barely explored its effects on youths’ emotional regulation abilities. That being said, it is to be noted that scholars do seem to suggest that participation in sports does have an impact on the aforementioned aspect in individuals. This phenomenological study aims to provide a deeper insight into the effects of sports participation on youths’ emotional regulation abilities. Guided by the modal model of emotions, this study will approach the subject matter by scrutinizing the way in which individuals deal with their challenges in life. Qualitative interviews were conducted with eight participants with varying demographics, and they were split into three main groups: (1) sports participants, (2) non-sports participants, and (3) social workers with the experience of utilizing sports as a medium to work with youths. These interviews were subsequently examined through thematic analysis. Results from this study suggest that sports participation bears fruitful benefits for youths. Specifically, youths who engage in sports activities are more adept at utilizing cognitive change as their main emotional regulation strategy to deal with challenges in life. They are able to reframe their views on certain psychologically relevant events in a manner that helps to nullify unwanted emotions, such as feelings of inadequacy and frustration. With the knowledge that sports has undeniable benefits to youths’ emotional regulation skills, the research also sought to uncover the key elements to consider when designing a youth sports programme. This was achieved through the examination of the youths’ subjective experiences, as well as certain suggestions that the participants may have. Ultimately, the nuances that were drawn out were collated and conceptualized into the SPORT framework, which will serve as a blueprint for the designing of future youth sports programmes.