PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, SPORTS PARTICIPATION, AND SUICIDAL BEHAVIORS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

The purpose of this literature review is to summarize published research that has evaluated the associations between physical activity (exercise) and sports participation with suicidal behaviors and to make recommendations for future research in this area. Findings on this topic are mixed. Several studies suggest that the sports participation experience is associated with lower odds of suicidal behaviors; however, the research, although promising, is not conclusive. Those findings are from cross-sectional studies, and as a result, cause-and-effect relationships cannot be determined. Variables that may mediate the associations of physical activity and sports participation with suicidal behaviors are proposed, but causal mechanisms have not been tested. Attention to key methodological weaknesses are needed to advance this field.