The Impact of Sport and Physical Activity on the Mental Health of Adolescents and Children—2nd Edition
A Special Issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X) belonging to the section "Health Psychology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 December 2026 | Viewed by 1572
Editors
Interests: physical activity; psychological variables
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: physical activity and health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: psychology; mental health; anxiety; pysical activity; sport
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Due to the interest in the previous Special Issue "The Impact of Sport and Physical Activity on the Mental Health of Adolescents and Children", we are pleased to publish a second edition of this Special Issue.
Growing concern about the mental health of children and adolescents in the social media era has highlighted the need to keep exploring effective and accessible strategies that promote their emotional well-being and ultimately their mental health. In this context, the practice of sport and physical activity emerges as a fundamental pillar, not only for physical development but also as a key resource for strengthening psychological resilience and supporting integral growth. Numerous studies show that regular exercise helps reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, while also improving mood, self-esteem, and socioemotional skills.
During childhood and adolescence (stages marked by profound cognitive, social, and emotional changes), sport provides a safe space for expression, socialization, and identity building. It also fosters healthy habits that can persist into adulthood, promoting more balanced lifestyles. Given the global increase in mental health issues among young people, this topic is especially relevant for researchers, health professionals, and policymakers.
This Special Issue aims to gather scientific evidence, practical experiences, and methodological innovations that strengthen the understanding of sport as a preventive and healing tool for youth mental health.
Dr. Patxi León-Guereño
Prof. Dr. Arkaitz Castañeda-Babarro
Prof. Dr. Jose Carlos Jaenes Sanchez
Dr. Itsaso Leunda Goñi
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- mental health
- stress
- anxiety
- well-being
- resilience
- physical activity
- sports
- disability
- adolescents
- children
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