Thriving Through Sport - The Transformative Impact on Girls’Mental Health - CEO Letter - April 2024

Oct 15, 2026

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America’s youth mental health crisis is addressed through a Women’s Sports Foundation research report dated April 2024, emphasizing how sport can both harm and heal. Toxic sport environments at competitive levels can worsen anxiety and depression, while coaches and healthy programs that prioritize mental health can create protective outcomes. The report highlights equity barriers for marginalized girls and calls for action from coaches, educators, clinicians, parents, and partners.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages80

Reading Time3 h 22 min

AccessFree to download

Letter from the CEO

Mental health crisis and the role of sport

Research findings and protective factors

Equity and Title IX context

Acknowledgments

Funding and collaboration

Thriving Through Sport: The Transformative Impact on Girls’Mental Health A Women’s Sports Foundation Research Report, April 2024 Letter from the CEO America’s youth are experiencing a mental health crisis, and their futures are on the line. Across the nation, we have witnessed an alarming increase in mental health challenges among young people, and while mental health concerns were exacerbated by COVID-19, these issues were prevalent long before the pandemic. National surveys reveal increases in anxiety and depression among young people, as well as a lack of adequate resources for prevention and intervention. That is why when the U.S. Surgeon General beckoned the nation to prioritize young people’s mental health, we did not hesitate to answer the call. Mental health is indeed complex, and we know sports can have powerful impacts. When it comes to sport and mental health, and especially, but not exclusively, at the most competitive levels of play, sport environments that are toxic can lead to adverse mental health consequences. We have heard far too many stories about athletes whose mental health has suffered; and for some, their experiences have been devastating. But the converse also holds true. Getting it right in sport, creating healthy sport environments with coaches that prioritize mental health can lead to positive and protective mental health outcomes, as evidenced in this new research. For 50 years and counting, the Women’s Sports Foundation has recognized the powerful connection between sport and physical and mental health. We have advocated tirelessly for greater access to sport for girls and women and supported community programs to ensure girls have more opportunities to play. The Women’s Sports Foundation’s new research report, Thriving through Sport: The Transformative Impact on Girls’Mental Health, provides new evidence that underscores the critical role that sport can play in boosting positive mental health. It offers an examination of how sport can protect against anxiety and depression and promote protective factors, such as social connectedness and building a sense of meaning and purpose. Above all, the data in this new report is a call to action for coaches, educators, pediatricians, mental health practitioners, parents, and others. When girls play sport in programs that elevate girls’ voices, emphasize personal growth, and foster healthy relationships — girls thrive. There is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that all girls have equitable access to sport. As outlined in our 2022 report, 50 Years of Title IX: We’re Not Done Yet, girls from marginalized communities, including girls of color, girls with disability, LGBTQ+ youth and those from low socioeconomic households, face even greater obstacles to play. Equitable access is especially important given this new research, which shows that mental health benefits of sport can be a great equalizer. When girls play in sport environments that prioritize wellbeing, they are able to play, compete and lead — in sport and in life. The Women’s Sports Foundation is deeply grateful to the Kozmetsky Family Foundation for the generous funding which made this report possible. The Women’s Sports Foundation is proud to be at the forefront of research and practice; and we look forward to working with experts across sport, youth development, education, medicine, and mental health to ensure that all girls have an opportunity to thrive in sport. Doing so will ensure that girls succeed in all areas of their lives, from family and community life to school and the workplace. All girls. All women. All sports® \#KeepPlaying Danette Leighton CEO, Women’s Sports Foundation Women’s Sports Foundation [WomensSportsFoundation.org](WomensSportsFoundation.org) Thriving Through Sport: The Transformative 2 Impact on Girls’Mental Health Acknowledgments Women’s Sports Foundation Acknowledgements First, the Women’s Sports Foundation is indebted

FAQs

What problem does the report address?

The report addresses an alarming rise in mental health challenges among America’s youth, including increases in anxiety and depression and insufficient prevention and intervention resources.

How can sports affect girls’ mental health positively?

Healthy sport environments with coaches who prioritize mental health can promote positive, protective outcomes such as social connectedness and a sense of meaning and purpose.

Why is equitable access to sport highlighted?

The report states that girls from marginalized communities face greater obstacles to play, and it emphasizes that sport’s mental health benefits can act as an equalizer when wellbeing is prioritized.

Oct 15, 2026

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