Sport and Mental Health

Abstract

The contribution of mental health to sports performance in sports populations is discussed. Athletes’ psychological needs and problems, and the various ways in which these may be resolved, are considered. The benefits of physical activity in the treatment of psychiatric populations and the elderly are reviewed. Recent emphasis on sports participation for its intrinsic rewards and the psychological benefits derived are also considered, and attention is drawn to the particular needs of children. © 1981, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.