About this Research Topic

Background

The intersection of physical activity and mental health is a well-researched area, with significant evidence supporting the positive effects of exercise on mental well-being. However, the specific impacts of physical activity on mental health can vary widely between recreational and elite athletes, indicating a need for a more nuanced understanding. Recreational athletes often experience enhanced mood, reduced stress, and overall improved well-being due to regular physical activity. Conversely, elite athletes, despite their high levels of physical fitness, face unique psychological stressors such as intense performance pressure, risk of injury, and demanding training regimens, which can sometimes exacerbate mental health issues.

We invite submissions to this Research Topic focused on exploring the relationship between physical activity and mental health in both recreational and elite sports. Although the mental health benefits of physical activity are well-documented, the specific impacts and mechanisms differ between recreational athletes and elite competitors. Recent findings highlight that while recreational athletes often enjoy enhanced mood, reduced stress, and improved well-being, elite athletes encounter unique challenges, including performance pressure, injury, and intense training demands, which can increase their risk of mental health issues.

This Research Topic aims to bridge the gap in understanding how varying levels of sports participation affect mental health outcomes. We encourage contributions that examine psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, and resilience across these populations, with the goal of developing targeted interventions to promote mental well-being. We are particularly interested in studies that leverage recent advances in sports psychology, including technology-driven mental health monitoring and personalized training programs, to enhance support for both recreational and elite athletes.

We welcome submissions that focus on the following themes (not limited to):

• The Role of Physical Activity in Mental Health: Examine the impact of various types, intensities, and frequencies of physical activity on mental health outcomes.
• Where Is the Limit? Investigate whether certain types, intensities, or frequencies of physical activity could be detrimental to mental health. What are the key risk factors?
• Mental Health in Elite Sports: Explore the impact of elite sports on mental health, including typical mental health profiles of elite athletes, the challenges they face, and mental health promotion in professional sports environments.

We invite diverse contributions including narrative and systematic reviews, mini-reviews, original research, clinical trials, and case studies that enrich our understanding of these critical issues.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• Erratum
• General Commentary
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• Erratum
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Registered Report
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Mental Health, Physical Activity, Sport Psychology, Recreational Sport, Elite Athletes

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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