Moderate involvement sports is related to lower depression levels among adolescents

Sports involvement has been found to be related to social and psychological well-being in Icelandic adolescents. The present study investigated whethe r similar relationships exist for American adolescents. A group of 89 high school seniors completed a questionnaire that gathered data on sports invol vement, depression, intimacy with parents and friends, and grade point aver age. It was found that the moderate sports involvement group (3 to 6 hours per week) had lower depression scores than did the low sports involvement g roup (2 hours or less per week). The findings are discussed.