title: [Play sports and feel well! Effects of sports on mental health].
abstract: The role of mental health is increasingly recognised in the discussion about health. In this article, health is considered to be a dynamic balance between resources and potential risk factors. Sport and physical activity may represent resources that do not only contribute to an increased well-being, but also to an improved self concept as a cognitive representation of one's health-status. Investigations of the short-time effects of sport show that different activities result in different mood changes, but also that the initial mood is important in such a way that people with a bad mood profit more from physical activity programmes. More permanent physical activity results in better well-being, but also in an improved perception of the health status and a higher satisfaction with health. Individually tailored new physical activity behaviour programmes and reinforcing systems have to be developed. These may lead to adequately strengthen the self-efficacy and increase the well-being of a broader population.
authors.affiliation: Sportpsychologie und Sozialwissenschaften, Sportwissenschaftliches Institut, Bundesamt für Sport, Magglingen. roland.seiler@baspo.admin.ch
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seiler
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Birrer
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*