Active club membership promotes good health

The psyche also benefits from membership in sports clubs
Although teenagers in particular today often have a large number of friends in online networks, their real social contacts have become significantly less in recent decades. A balance can provide here, according to a recent study, the active membership in clubs in. This has a positive effect on the social relations of the adolescents and their mental health, reports the Medical University of Vienna from the study results.

There are billions of users in social networks such as Facebook, Twitter or WhatsApp. At the same time, according to the MedUni Vienna, "real" social contacts are declining noticeably. However, active membership in clubs can be a good antidote here. Researchers from the Austrian Federal Sports Organization (BSO) and the Department of Environmental Hygiene and Environmental Medicine at MedUni Vienna have examined the benefits of club membership.

The active membership in clubs strengthens not only the physical health, but also the psychological well-being - and that from an early age. (Image: Robert Kneschke / fotolia.com)

Benefits of active membership in the sports club
The research team led by Hans-Peter Hutter from the MedUni Vienna has evaluated a total of 1,685 previous work on the subject of "sports club and health". Among the most important health effects that could be identified were increased self-confidence (especially among girls), improved well-being and better mental health, according to the MedUni Vienna. Also contribute "the active membership in the sports club in the youth to the integration into society and protect young people from being" on the wrong track, "said the study director. Active membership in the sports club is fun and brings social support, which also leads to a more regular sporting activity. Sports club members are generally satisfied with their life (he).

Positive effects in all age groups
Many of the effects were, according to the scientists, more active in sports club membership than self-organized sports. The central result of the meta-study was that in addition to the positive effect of regular exercise, positive effects on mental health are also caused by active membership in sports clubs. The positive health effects of the social aspects in sports clubs are detectable in all age groups and in both genders.

Social component often underestimated
In general, the social component in medicine is often underestimated and its positive effects on health are little discussed, the study authors emphasize. Recent studies have also pointed out that an active social life has positive effects in the prevention of dementia. Social contacts keep you vital, because you have to react to your counterpart, explains Hans-Peter Hutter. This would promote cognitive skills. Sports in the club have a general psychosocial benefit, which is also a unique feature of club work, so the conclusion of the study director. (Fp)