The Role of Sport and Physical Activity in the Recovery of Youth Mental Health Following COVID-19 Restrictions

The purpose of this research is to understand the role that community sport programming plays in enhancing northern and urban youth physical and mental health as sport returns from COVID-19 restrictions. Specifically, the research will longitudinally track changes to social identity, mental health, and physical activity among 300 children and youth (6-14 years old). The participants will be enrolled in comparable sport-based programs at MLSE LaunchPad in Toronto and YMCA Northeastern Ontario (North Bay and Sudbury). Given the negative implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on activity levels and mental health of children and youth, innovative strategies are urgently needed to monitor and understand how the return of sport participation can be vital for the promotion of mental health and physical activity. Enhanced social identity can help foster a sense of ‘us’ within a community sport organization, which can be a key driver of greater mental health and physical activity.

Faculty Supervisor:

Mark Bruner

Student:

Partner:

MLSE LaunchPad

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Arts, entertainment and recreation

University:

Nipissing University

Program: