Do Extracurricular Activities Have a Positive Effect on Mental Health?

There are so many good, valid reasons to sign your student up for extracurricular activities. They’re proven to help teens and young adults in the following areas:

Academic achievement
Leadership skills
Social acuity
Physical health and well-being

Whether it’s a sports team, a musical outlet, the school drama club, or a robotics team, there’s no denying the positive effects of an extracurricular outlet. And here’s one more: these kinds of activities are also proven to strengthen mental health. If your student struggles with poor self-esteem, anxiety, depression, or another condition or disorder, extracurriculars may be worth a try.

At NPS, we offer a holistic viewpoint on mental health, especially for our younger clients. We believe the happiest and healthiest lives are well-rounded. Keep reading or give us a call to learn more about how extracurricular activities can be an enriching experience for both teens and parents.

Do Extracurricular Activities Have a Positive Effect on Mental Health?

Social Connection

If your teen struggles to connect with their peers, an extracurricular activity can provide additional opportunities for them to strengthen those social skills. Extracurriculars build community and encourage student engagement, helping teens feel more connected and invested. This also has the added benefit of strengthening their relationship with the school itself, often decreasing the risk of dropout or academic failure.

Social connectedness is a proven component of strong mental health. Students who feel connected with their peers experience lower stress levels, better moods, and stronger emotional fortitude. Conversely, isolation leads to feelings of sadness, low self-worth, and anxiety.

That said, an extracurricular activity is only beneficial when the teen is committed to regular attendance and participation. This is why we encourage parents to work with their students to find activities of interest to their teens.

Brain Chemistry

Many extracurricular activities require physical activity–which is a proven way to increase blood flow to the brain, improving memory, attention, and problem-solving capabilities. What’s more, physical exertion leads to the release of endorphins. And endorphins are hormones known to boost moods, relieve pain, and create a sense of well-being.

Another method for releasing endorphins? Laughter. And because extracurricular activities are a great way to increase social connection and build relationships, it’s safe to assume that laughter will happen every now and then. The chemical shift that takes place when a teen participates in extracurricular activities is a major contributor to improved mental health.

A Sense of Purpose

One underrated benefit of extracurricular activities is the exposure to hobbies and interests that may lead to lifelong passions. Extracurriculars are a straightforward and accessible way to help your teen explore a variety of interests beyond school. They may even lead to academic and career paths that would otherwise have been missed.

When a teen finds an area of interest, they feel increased motivation to set goals and maintain focus. It is impossible to teach this kind of drive, instead students must learn through the pursuit of real passion. We don’t want to oversell the power of an extracurricular activity, but there’s no way to describe the impact a sense of purpose can have on an adolescent’s mental health.

Reduced Screen Time

Even if your student doesn’t feel passionate about their extracurricular activity, they may still find that it’s a worthwhile way to spend their time. At the very least, it’s a strong option for reducing screen usage. This fact alone could help your teen avoid sleep deprivation, dry eyes, depression, anxiety, and all the other negative side effects that are associated with high screen usage.

Phones, tablets, and social media are designed to keep users glued to their device. An extracurricular activity is a natural way to cut back and break the cycle.

Time and Stress Management

Often, we find that a lack of time and stress management skills is contributing to the poor mental health of our teen clients. Being able to plan ahead results in less stress, better sleep, and greater balance in life. And this is a skill that can be learned through participation in extracurricular activities.

We know it is counterintuitive, but giving your student more to do can help them manage their time better. Knowing that they will need to plan ahead to manage their day and responsibilities will teach them how to strike a healthy balance.

Teamwork and Collaboration

Being a member of a team will require your student to work with others in pursuit of a goal. Sometimes, they’ll get along with those team members; other times they won’t. Both scenarios can be a learning experience for working with people with differing perspectives.

And it’s not just sports teams that require teamwork. Even non-competitive programs like art clubs or community service organizations teach teens how to collaborate and overcome differences. Ultimately, all of the above will lead to increased self-trust, self-esteem, and positive mental health.

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