Impact sport projects on young people’s mental health within own organisation
Project
Young people aged 12 to 18 often experience mental health issues, such as loneliness and stress. In 2025, 32% reported low life satisfaction. Furthermore, 46.7% stated that they felt somewhat to very lonely (RIVM). Research by the Mulier Institute and others shows that sport can help improve mental health. Less is known about what sport projects mean for sport clubs themselves. Commissioned by the National Fund for Sport, the project team is investigating this effect.
Sport clubs organised 9 projects with financial support from the National Sport Fund. For example, the Blue Marlins swimming club organised a series of swimming lessons, and the On The Move Sportvrienden club ran a ‘Feel Good’ programme. Both organisations used sport as a means of promoting young people’s mental health.
With this research, organisations gain insight into the benefits of sport projects for their own organisation.
Guus Heijnen
Onderzoeker
Aim
This study shows whether sport projects for mentally vulnerable young people also have positive effects on sport clubs themselves.
Method
By means of desk research, the project team examines the mental health of young people in the Netherlands and the contribution of sport. They then conduct semi-structured interviews with the people responsible for organising the 9 sport projects.
Expected results/products
The project team will produce a research report containing all results and recommendations. They will publish this report and a presentation together with the National Fund for Sport.
Societal impact
Organisations and clubs gain insight into the benefits of sport projects for their own development, such as establishing more partnerships and acquiring more knowledge about the impact of sport on mental health. This lowers the threshold for starting new sport projects for young people.
Contribution to education and research
The study is partly carried out by a final-year student from the Bachelor’s programme Sport Studies. In addition, researchers collect new knowledge about the side effects of sport projects. Sport management programmes will use these insights in their teaching, thereby showing that sport projects create value for participants as well as other stakeholders.
Project team AUAS
- Sven Roest
- Guus Heijnen
- Martin Breedijk
Grant provider
- National Fund for Sport
Sport Management & Sport Business
This project is part of the Sport Management & Sport Business research group. Want to know more?