Adjunct exercise interventions for people with mental health difficulties have been shown to improve well-being while also increasing physical and social health. Soccer as a team sport is a particularly apt form of group-based exercise as it fosters social inclusion and communication skills potentially also across cultural and socio-economic barriers. We discuss how some exercise interventions such as those using soccer are potentially well-aligned with concepts from Positive Psychology such as Seligman’s five elements (PERMA) that determine “Eudaimonia” (a good life): Positive emotions (P), Engagement and Flow (E), Positive Relationships (R), Meaning (M), and Accomplishment (A). In the present study the perceived life improvements reported by participants of a London-based soccer intervention “Coping Through Football” (CTF) are analysed for content using these five elements. All but Meaning (M) could be identified clearly; Positive Relationship (R) and Accomplishment (A) were the most commonly reported components. The PERMA model offers a potentially highly relevant framework to measure changes in well-being in participants of adjunct physical exercise treatments in mental health. Further quantitative and qualitative evaluation using the PERMA categories has the clear potential to inform policy and funding decisions in the growing area of psychosocial interventions in public mental health.
References
[1]
Adler, A., & Seligman, M. E. (2016). Using Well-Being for Public Policy: Theory, Measurement, and Recommendations. International Journal of Well-being, 6, 1-35. https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v6i1.429
[2]
Asmundson, G. J., Fetzner, M. G., DeBoer, L. B., Powers, M. B., Otto, M. W., & Smits, J. A. (2013). Let’s get Physical: A Contemporary Review of the Anxiolytic Effects of Exercise for Anxiety and Its Disorders. Depression and Anxiety, 30, 362-373. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22043
[3]
Barber, B. L., Eccles, J. S., & Stone, M. R. (2001). Whatever Happened to the Jock, the Brain, and the Princess? Young Adult Pathways Linked to Adolescent Activity Involvement and Social Identity. Journal of Adolescent Research, 16, 429-455. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558401165002
[4]
Barton, J., Griffin, M., & Pretty, J. (2012). Exercise-, Nature- and Socially Interactive-Based Initiatives Improve Mood and Self-Esteem in the Clinical Population. Perspectives in Public Health, 132, 89-96. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913910393862
[5]
Battaglia, G., Alesi, M., Inguglia, M., Roccella, M., Caramazza, G., Bellafiore, M., & Palma, A. (2013). Soccer Practice as an Add-On Treatment in the Management of Individuals with a Diagnosis of Schizophrenia. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 9, 595-603. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S44066
[6]
Boehm, J. K., & Kubzansky, L. D. (2012). The Heart’s Content: The Association between Positive Psychological Well-Being and Cardiovascular Health. Psychological Bulletin, 138, 655-691. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027448
[7]
Brawn, P., Combes, H., & Ellis, N. (2015). Football Narratives: Recovery and Mental Health. The Journal of New Writing in Health and Social Care, 2, 30-46.
[8]
Brophy, L., & Harvey, C. (2011). Social Isolation in People with Mental Illness. Medicine Today, 12, 73-78.
[9]
Butterly, R., Adams, D., Brown, A., & Golby, J. (2006). Client Perceptions of the MUSCSEL Project: A Community-Based Physical Activity Programme for Patients with Mental Health Problems. Journal of Public Mental Health, 5, 45-52. https://doi.org/10.1108/17465729200600031
[10]
Callaghan, P. (2004). Exercise: A Neglected Intervention in Mental Health Care? Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 11, 476-483.
[11]
Carter-Morris, P., & Faulkner, G. (2003). A Football Project for Service Users: The Role of Football in Reducing Social Exclusion. Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 2, 24-30.
[12]
Darongkamas, J., Scott, H., & Taylor, E. (2011). Kick-Starting Men’s Mental Health: An Evaluation of the Effect of Playing Football on Mental Health Service Users’ Well-Being. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 13, 14-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623730.2011.9715658
[13]
Eime, R. M., Young, J. A., Harvey, J. T., Charity, M. J., & Payne, W. R. (2013). A Systematic Review of the Psychological and Social Benefits of Participation in Sport for Children and Adolescents: Informing Development of a Conceptual Model of Health through Sport. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 10, 98.
[14]
Faulkner, G., & Sparkes, A. (1999). Exercise as Therapy for Schizophrenia: An Ethnographic Study. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 21, 52-69. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.21.1.52
[15]
Fenton, L., White, C., Gallant, K. A., Gilbert, R., Hutchinson, S., Hamilton-Hinch, B., & Lauckner, H. (2017). The Benefits of Recreation for the Recovery and Social Inclusion of Individuals with Mental Illness: An Integrative Review. Leisure Sciences, 39, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2015.1120168
[16]
Friedrich, B., & Mason, O. J. (2017). “What Is the Score?” A Review of Football-Based Public Mental Health Interventions. Journal of Public Mental Health, 16, 144-158. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-03-2017-0011
[17]
Friedrich, B., & Mason, O. J. (2018). Evaluation of the Coping through Football Project: Physical Activity and Psychosocial Outcomes. The Open Public Health Journal, 10, 276-282.
[18]
Hare, D. L., Toukhsati, S. R., Johansson, P., & Jaarsma, T. (2013). Depression and Cardiovascular Disease: A Clinical Review. European Heart Journal, 35, 1365-1372. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/eht462
[19]
Heintzelman, S. J., & King, L. A. (2014). Life Is Pretty Meaningful. American Psychologist, 69, 561-574. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035049
[20]
Krustrup, P., Hansen, P. R., Nielsen, C. M., Larsen, M. N., Randers, M. B., Manniche, V. et al. (2014). Structural and Functional Cardiac Adaptations to a 10-Week School-Based Football Intervention for 9-10 Year-Old Children. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 24, 4-9. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12277
[21]
Krustrup, P., Randers, M. B., Andersen, L. J., Jackman, S. R., Bangsbo, J., & Hansen, P. R. (2013). Soccer Improves Fitness and Attenuates Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Hypertensive Men. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 45, 553-560. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182777051
[22]
Lambert, L., D’Cruz, A., Schlatter, M., & Barron, F. (2016). Using Physical Activity to Tackle Depression: The Neglected Positive Psychology Intervention. Middle East Journal of Positive Psychology, 2, 42-60.
[23]
Lamont, E., Harris, J., McDonald, G., Kerin, T., & Dickens, G. L. (2017). Qualitative Investigation of the Role of Collaborative Football and Walking Football Groups in Mental Health Recovery. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 12, 116-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2017.03.003
[24]
Magee, J., Spaaij, R., & Jeanes, R. (2015). “It’s Recovery United for Me”: Promises and Pitfalls of Football as Part of Mental Health Recovery. Sociology of Sport Journal, 32, 357-376. https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2014-0149
[25]
Mason, O. J., & Holt, R. (2012a). Mental Health and Physical Activity Interventions: A Review of the Qualitative Literature. Journal of Mental Health, 21, 274-284. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638237.2011.648344
[26]
Mason, O. J., & Holt, R. (2012b). A Role for Football in Mental Health: The Coping through Football Project. The Psychiatrist, 36, 290-293. https://doi.org/10.1192/pb.bp.111.036269
[27]
McElroy, P., Evans, P., & Pringle, A. (2008). Sick as a Parrot or over the Moon: An Evaluation of the Impact of Playing Regular Matches in a Football League on Mental Health Service Users. Practice Development in Health Care, 7, 40-48. https://doi.org/10.1002/pdh.245
[28]
Mellor, G. (2008). The Janus-Faced Sport: English Football, Community and the Legacy of the “Third Way”. Soccer & Society, 9, 313-324. https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970802008942
[29]
Mutrie, N. and Faulkner, G. (2004) Physical Activity: Positive Psychology in Motion. In P. A. Linley, & S. Joseph (Eds.), Positive Psychology in Practice (pp. 146-164). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470939338.ch9
[30]
Nielsen, G., Wikman, J. M., Jensen, C. J., Schmidt, J. F., Gliemann, L., & Andersen, T. R. (2014). Health Promotion: The Impact of Beliefs of Health Benefits, Social Relations and Enjoyment on Exercise Continuation. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 24, 66-75. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12275
[31]
O’Kane, P., & McKenna, B. (2002). Five a Side Makes a Difference. Mental Health Nursing, 22, 6-9.
[32]
Oja, P., Titze, S., Kokko, S., Kujala, U. M., Heinonen, A., Kelly, P. et al. (2015). Health Benefits of Different Sport Disciplines for Adults: Systematic Review of Observational and Intervention Studies with Meta-Analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 49, 434-440. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2014-093885
[33]
Osborn, D. P. (2001). The Poor Physical Health of People with Mental Illness. Western Journal of Medicine, 175, 329-332. https://doi.org/10.1136/ewjm.175.5.329
[34]
Parnell, D., & Richardson, D. (2014). Introduction. Soccer & Society, 15, 823-827. https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2014.920619
[35]
Parschau, L., Fleig, L., Warner, L. M., Pomp, S., Barz, M., Knoll, N. et al. (2014). Positive Exercise Experience Facilitates Behavior Change via Self-Efficacy. Health Education & Behavior, 41, 414-422. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198114529132
[36]
Ringen, P. A., Engh, J. A., Birkenaes, A. B., Dieset, I., & Andreassen, O. A. (2014). Increased Mortality in Schizophrenia Due to Cardiovascular Disease—A Non-Systematic Review of Epidemiology, Possible Causes, and Interventions. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 5, 137. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00137
[37]
Seligman, M. E. (2012). Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being: Simon and Schuster. New York, NY: Atria Books.
[38]
Stathopoulou, G., Powers, M. B., Berry, A. C., Smits, J. A., & Otto, M. W. (2006). Exercise Interventions for Mental Health: A Quantitative and Qualitative Review. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 13, 179-193.
[39]
Steckley, L. (2005). Just a Game? The Therapeutic Potential of Football Facing Forward: Residential Child Care in the 21st Century (pp. 137-147). Lyme Regis: Russell House Publishing.
[40]
Steiner, H., McQuivey, R. W., Pavelski, R., Pitts, T., & Kraemer, H. (2000). Adolescents and Sports: Risk or Benefit? Clinical Pediatrics, 39, 161-166. https://doi.org/10.1177/000992280003900304
[41]
Van Cappellen, P., Rice, E. L., Catalino, L. I., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2017). Positive Affective Processes Underlie Positive Health Behaviour Change. Psychology & Health, 33, 77-97.
