The London 2012 Olympics – will there be a legacy for mental health?

SummaryThe host country's legacy after the Olympic Games is multifaceted. Alongside such diverse elements as tourism, commerce and transport sit the health benefits of increased participation in sports and provision of the highest quality medical support for the nation's elite sporting performers. Mental health, however, merits no specific mention. This could be a missed opportunity to create a legacy that promotes the mental health benefits of exercise as well as ensuring that the mental health needs of elite sportsmen and women are recognised and met in the same manner as their physical health needs.

Download Full-text

National Identification, A Social Cure for COVID-19? Evidence From 67 Countries

10.31234/osf.io/294r5 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Eric Bonetto ◽

Sylvain Delouvée ◽

Yara Mahfud ◽

Jais Adam-Troian

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Health ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Well Being ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

National Identification ◽

The Social ◽

Mental Health Benefits

Social distancing and mass quarantines were implemented worldwide in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Prior research on the effects of social isolation has shown that such measures bear negative consequences for population health and well-being. Conversely, a growing body of evidence suggests that feeling positively identified with a group is associated with a range of physical and mental health benefits. This effect is referred to as the social cure and generalizes to various identities. In line with these findings, this study tested whether national identification could promote wellbeing and physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic. To do so, we used survey data conducted among 67 countries (N = 46,450) which included measures of wellbeing, national identification, and subjective physical health. Mixed-model analyses revealed that national identity was indeed associated with wellbeing - despite adjustment on social belonging, COVID-19 perceived risk, exposure, and ideology. This effect did not extend to subjective health. These results suggest that the mere feeling of belonging to a national group may have mental health benefits and could be leveraged by governments. We discuss the implications of our findings within the social cure framework and their relevance for population mental health under COVID-19.

Download Full-text

OPINION OF ARMENIAN CHESS COACHES ON THE PROBLEM OF PHYSICAL TRAINING OF CHESS PLAYERS

Գիտությունը սպորտում. արդի հիմնախնդիրներ ◽

10.53068/25792997-2021.1.3-76 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 76-88

Author(s):

Armen Hakobyan

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Health ◽

Physical Training ◽

Health Needs ◽

Performance Excellence ◽

Mental Health Needs ◽

Chess Players

The article addresses the issues of physical training of chess players, as an athlete’s mental health needs are as important as their physical health needs, and both are likely to contribute to optimising the athlete’s overall wellbeing in conjunction with performance excellence. In this regard, it is necessary to study the raised problem, identify opinions and approaches of coaches.

Download Full-text

Incarcerated Mothers of Minor Children: Physical Health, Substance Use, and Mental Health Needs

Women & Criminal Justice ◽

10.1080/08974454.2016.1247772 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 170-190 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Susan J. Rose ◽

Thomas P. LeBel

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Substance Use ◽

Physical Health ◽

Health Needs ◽

Incarcerated Mothers ◽

Mental Health Needs ◽

Minor Children

Download Full-text

National identification, a social cure for COVID-19? Evidence from 67 countries

International Journal of Social Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/00207640211020036 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 002076402110200

Author(s):

Eric Bonetto ◽

Sylvain Delouvée ◽

Yara Mahfud ◽

Jais Adam-Troian

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Health ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Well Being ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

National Identification ◽

Mental Health Benefits ◽

Population Mental Health

Background: Social distancing and mass quarantines were implemented worldwide in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Prior research has shown that such measures bear negative consequences for population mental health and well-being. Conversely, a growing body of evidence suggests that feeling positively identified with a group is associated with physical and mental health benefits. Aims: This study tested whether national identification could promote wellbeing and physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: We used survey data conducted among 67 countries ( N = 46,450). Results: Mixed-model analyses revealed that national identity was associated with wellbeing – despite adjustment on social belonging, COVID-19 perceived risk, exposure and ideology. This effect did not extend to physical health. Conclusions: These results suggest that the mere feeling of belonging to a national group may have mental health benefits. We discuss the implications of our findings within the social cure framework and their relevance for population mental health under COVID-19.

Download Full-text