Analysis of the emotional and social impacts of physical education

Introduction

Over the years, psychologists have come up with viable methods to address the athletes’ well-being as well as their optimal performances. The above methods make use of psychological knowledge and skills and therefore it is referred to as sports psychology (APA, 2018). In this manner, psychology has gone ahead to better the aspects such as developmental and social aspects of sports participation together with major issues that are associated with sports organization and its setting. To further improve the performances of these aspects, most sports psychologists; qualified coaches and athletes have come together (Cherry, 2017). The approaches are not applicable in the case of athletes only, most experts in psychology have adopted them to enhance the well-being of the individuals in a lifetime.

The athletes are helped by the professional psychologists to improve their performance in the following capacities:

1. Intense pressure resulting from competition
2. Overcoming problems related to focus and motivation

• Learning to stick to an exercise programs

1. How to get healed from injuries
2. How to enjoy sports

In this paper I will discuss various social and emotional impacts of physical education with respect to terms such as the following:

Role model: This is a person who serves as an example in a specific behavioral or social role of for another person to follow. In most cases, role models act as an inspiration to younger persons (Price, 2017). Therefore, they play the most crucial part in the child’s development in a positive way. They show children how to live with the best qualities such as integrity, determination, optimism among others.

Sport: A sport refers to any activity that involves physical action and skill in which a person or a team competes in opposition to another for the purpose of entertainment or fun. It is an attempt that is voluntary to overcome obstacles that are not necessary (Burton, 2018). In athletics, physical activities are very important.

Martial art: This refers to various arts of combat that are practiced as port and sometimes for self-defense. Most people think that martial arts are only for self-defense; this is not only the case other people have adopted it and practice it as a sport on a daily basis (Raba, 2017).

The role of parents in children’s sport

It is important to note the pare play a vital role in the child’s sports development. However, caution must be taken. This is because the behavior of most parents can pose either positive or negative impacts on their children’s sports development (Quinton, 2017). Research has shown that most children enjoy their sporting experience if they receive a positive involvement from their parents. One of the key aspects that bring success to most males and females has been attributed to the positive parental involvement. In addition, it is important in the child’s development as it will enable them to develop skills such as motivation, high self-esteem, and social skills. In this way:

• The parents should encourage their children to build their own self-awareness of the skills they have acquired. By doing so, the self-confidence will be enhanced and the transfer of such skills to other capacities in life is also facilitated.
• They need to trust the method used by the coaches. If the method taught by the couch is reiterated by the parent, then the chances of confusing him or her are rare, this means that they are able to walk together towards a predefined set of objectives.
• They provide touching and concrete support to their children. This is simply assuring them of your availability and support whenever they are in need of it.

The principles of sport psychology

There are factors that influence the sports participation. Such factors include physical activities, and exercise. From the two fields, athletes and coaches are able to derive skills and knowledge used to improve the performances (Roberts, 2008). Various sports stakeholders must ensure that their teams win in most competitions; therefore, some principles have been put in place to bring success. Such principles can help mental training of athletes and include the following:

• The use of various mental strategies to enhance their overall performance. These include; self-talk and relaxation approaches, and visualization to conquer obstacles and attain full probable in competitions.
• Ability to cope with intense pressure arising from competition, parents, coaches or even their own expectations.
• Ability to recover from injuries, adhere to the physical therapeutic approaches, or willingness to adjust to sidelining.
• Going on with daily training programs by ensuring that motivation and tackling any concerns are increased.

The difference between sports performance and academic performance

Most people assume that average athletic students perform poorly in class work or the academic performance. This bears some truth to some extent. The athletic students invest much of their time in practice or other activities concerning their talent. Research shows that such students who actively participate in sports show a great difference with the rest in terms of performance (Stahler, 2016). Those who are in school on a regular basis will perform better than the athletic students.

Some of the positive impacts of physical activities in both social and emotional state of an individual include:

Improved Self-Esteem

Self-esteem is important in all children as they interact with others. It is specifically beneficial if a child can believe in him/herself as early as he steps out of his home to meet and interact with friends. Obese children have been documented as the most affected st of children in as far as self-esteem is concerned. Being obese and overweight can have a range of psychological effects as one will be always feeling to be at his or her lowest. While research cannot directly link improved physical activity with self-esteem, reduced obesity which is gained after undertaking thorough exercises can improve children’s self-esteem. Most research programs and studies, therefore, have had an indirect recommendation for exercises pegged on improved self-esteem scores of those who happen to participate. Some of the elements which can show how physical activities can have a positive impact on self-esteem include:

• The direct relationship between goal achievement and the increase in physical activities
• Increased level of competence
• Rapid achievement of desired mastery
• The high increase in the desire to participate in social activities
• Development of positive self-preservation activities
• Self-increase of social

The analysis done on the elementary school children depict a whole correlation effect between physical activity and healthy self-concept. The effect was even more pronounced when aerobic activities were included in the activities. It is therefore logical that for children to be able to increase their self-esteem levels, they should participate in rigorous exercises. physical activities are always performed in groups which also explain why the social aspect of the physical activities can be attained. In fact, performing physical exercises as a group can greatly develop positive moods in an individual which means increased scores for self-esteem.

Improvement of Academic Intelligence

Any process which can positively affect our intelligence is also psychological. Various studies have linked exercises with mental smartness in an individual and it is not an exception in children. Exercise provides a win-win opportunity for the body and the brain. Some of the reasons which can be attributed to these links include:

Memory Boost

Sprints according to University of Muenster’s, Department of Neurology, can lead to boost in memory. The same boost in memory can be affected by low-impact running. Maintained sprints can lead to the high production of dopamine which is a neurotrophic factor (a neuropsychological protein which triggers brain nerve cell growth), word memory and epinephrine by at least 20 %.

Improved Productivity

One cannot imagine the impact of hitting the exercises arena due to proper management of time. Productivity has a direct effect on the psychological state of an individual since one can be mentally stable if he or she feels productive. According to Havard professor, J.Ratey, lack of exercises will mean that our brains will not take any new information or produce other cells. Other studies published in International Journal of Workplace Health Management, supports the claim that shows 23% in improvement in productivity. The main reason which can be attributed to this impact is that there is an increase in the amount of oxygen reaching the brain and can, therefore, improve brain functioning.

Improvement in concentration

Resistance training has shown improvement in focus both at the gym or exercising places and daily lives. Revies done in over hundred scientific researches and documented in Journal of Applied Physiology indicates that those who worked out regularly were more focused and had few or fewer distractions at any given place.

Improvement in Mental Processing

Improved mental processing has been depicted by Yoga stands due to the focus which it demands. Yoga practice which is one of the common physical exercises can be able to improve mental clarity and the ability to process information. Students who are able to participate in Yoga sessions can be able to process information at a fast rate and hence be able to achieve better scores. This is also true of other younger children which ensure that their psychological processing needs are taken care of in such exercises.

Improvement of Endurance

Yoga exercises increase endurance in that it provides a number of trying chances with intermittent fails. Various research studies have also shown that any exercise can improve mental endurance and reduce fatigue. Mental blocks which depict “I can’t” message is linked to better endurance.

Better decision making

Another way in which one can attribute physical activities to intelligence is the improvement in decision-making techniques. The brain has a muscle and it needs as much oxygen as the other parts of the body. The decision making part of the brain needs a high volume of oxygen to warrant a better decision-making process. It, therefore, means that the effect of physical activities on the decision-making process is one way of improving our intelligence.

Character Development

While athletic competition may not have a better way of improving character, physical activity increases commitment, motivation, deeper self-reliance and persistence which are all geared towards character development. A person who person who builds on the positive character is psychologically stable and can be able to interact with his or her friends who value such positive character.  Consequently, such interactions constitute a better way of developing social aspects of a child.

Reduction of Juvenile Delinquency

Most of the scientific studies have revealed that juvenile delinquency is high in the nonathletic group as compared to the athletic group. Some of the theories which explain such relationship include:

• Surplus energy theory which states that surplus energy must be spent subject to “blow off steam”
• Stimulus seeking theory (thrills and the excitement which results from exercises warrants increased requirement for stimulation)
• Boredom theory which stipulates that exercises or any physical activity spend much energy in a child leaving him with less to spend on delinquent behavior

Linking the reduced delinquent behaviors to improved psychological and social boost, a child with less delinquent behaviors has attractive body image which helps in the psychological aspect of development. He or she can also become socially active due to the good image portrayed.

Reduces depression and Anxiety

According to (Raba, 2017), regular physical exercises can drastically reduce anxiety and depression. This condition can improve after 9-10 weeks of rigorous exercises. The impact can be felt in those who are already battling with the condition than those who are experiencing and examined the mild form of the condition. Exercises can increase the level of endorphins, serotonin, and other related chemicals. These chemicals are responsible for the anti-depressive effect.

Makes You Feel Better

Any person who feels better physically can also feel better emotionally. When you do exercises, there are higher chances of better sleep and give you better energy. It can also help you tighten and tone different body areas resulting in a better appearance in your clothing. All the qualities that come as a result of regular exercises will also increase ones’ self-esteem.  In spite of the endorphins boosting your mood, your concentration skills may be also boosted. The results will enable you to emphasize your connections, your occupation or even the schoolwork for most learners which may, in turn, increase your self-confidence feeling.

Social Benefits

The social relations of an individual may improve with the improvement of self-esteem and emotional health. The increased self-confidence can enable you to explore more and reach most new friends. Sports participation will also give you a chance to come together with other people whom you share a common interest in various life capacities. By meeting new people and friends and new friends is an entry to the establishment and support network development. For the people without team sports interest, that should not worry you because you still have a chance of reaping social benefits. This is possible through seeking advice from friends for daily walks, or meeting new people at the local pools.

Special Considerations

In other instances, exercising more than it is expected can have negative impacts on ones emotional health (Burton, 2018), in this manner, Baylor College of Medicine is warned. You are not supposed to get obsessed with exercise as it might make you addicted. The signs of addiction are putting for time aside for the purpose of the exercise, having little time with friends and family, or your grades in school or the job performance will suffer. For the people who have made exercise their routing of the day, they feel guilty when they miss it and this is also a sign of unfit obsession. It is always advisable to visit you, doctor if you feel that your social and emotional talk, health or behavior is affected by your exercise program.

Conclusion

This paper does not give definitive conclusions in the end. However, formulation of future studies is a necessity to attain such conclusions. Their role would be to examine the connection that exists amid mental health and the physical activity. The studies done in the past show that physical activity has many advantages. Such advantages include reduction of anxiety or dementia, reduction of youthful crimes and depression, the improvement of concentration, raising the self-esteem and improvement of academic grades. Nevertheless, there is a need for the development of further studies to draw useful conclusions on these. The data that is currently in operation does not bear enough evidence to support this.

References

APA. (2018). AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION. Retrieved from Advancing psychology to benefit society and improve people’s lives: http://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/sports.aspx

Burton, N. (2018, March 20). Psychology Today. Retrieved from What Makes a Sport a Sport?: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hide-and-seek/201803/what-makes-sport-sport

Cherry, K. (2017, May 19). Very Well Mind. Retrieved from What Is Sports Psychology?: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-sports-psychology-2794906

Price, M. (2017, December 4). ROOTS OF ACTION. Retrieved from What is a Role Model? Five Qualities that Matter to Youth: https://www.rootsofaction.com/role-model/

Quinton, M. (2017). BELIEVE PERFORM. Retrieved from The influence of parents in youth sport: https://believeperform.com/coaching/the-influence-of-parents-in-youth-sport/

Raba, M. (2017, January 19). Quora. Retrieved from What is a martial artist?: https://www.quora.com/What-is-a-martial-artist

Roberts, R. C. (2008). Movement imagery ability: development and assessment of a revised version of the vividness of movement imagery questionnaire. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 200-221.

Stahler, K. (2016, January 4). Wiley Online Library. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/aepr.12124