Golf and mental health: survey findings

Psychological
well being is arguably a subject of extra dialog now than ever earlier than—together with
in sport.

Whether or not it’s boxer Tyson Fury opening up about his previous struggles, ex-footballers like Clarke Carlisle and Paul Merson discussing theirs, or, extra lately, Rory McIlroy speaking about his psychological well being and its influence on his golf—conversations surrounding psychological well being in sport are usually not unusual.

However away
from the skilled sport, and with regards to your on a regular basis hobbyist golfer,
how a lot psychological well being consciousness exists within the UK sport?

Do individuals
view golf as one thing that positively impacts their psychological well being? Do UK
golfers really feel snug discussing psychological well being out on the course or within the
clubhouse after a spherical?

We surveyed 1,623 UK golfers to search out out.

Golf and psychological well being: the analysis

Of the
1,623 survey respondents, 93% have been male.

In complete, 28% of golfers mentioned that they had skilled a psychological well being downside of their life, whereas 8% mentioned they have been not sure whether or not they had or hadn’t.

The survey outcomes overwhelmingly favoured the view that taking part in golf is nice for individuals’s psychological well being. In reality, an enormous 95% of golfers surveyed mentioned the game was good for psychological well being, with 89% saying it had had a optimistic influence on theirs.

Simply 1% of golfers mentioned they don’t assume golf is nice for individuals’s psychological well being, and solely 4% mentioned taking part in had not achieved something to enhance theirs.

Speaking about psychological well being

Although so
a lot good work has been achieved to interrupt down a few of the stigmas surrounding
psychological well being, many individuals nonetheless really feel uncomfortable speaking about it.

Nevertheless,
greater than a 3rd of the golfers we surveyed (36%) mentioned that they’d had
conversations about psychological well being with fellow golfers that they may not have essentially
had with different individuals or buddies.

Practically half
(46%) mentioned they felt snug speaking about their psychological well being with fellow
golfers. This could counsel that golf golf equipment and programs have gotten safer and
extra accepting areas for individuals with psychological well being issues to speak.

Nevertheless,
the outcomes of our survey confirmed that individuals nonetheless really feel extra snug
speaking about psychological well being in different settings than they do in golf-related
settings. Compared, 61% mentioned they felt snug speaking about psychological
well being with their household.

52% mentioned they felt snug discussing psychological well being with their companion, which, maybe surprisingly, is greater than the quantity who mentioned they felt snug speaking to a physician (49%).

The psychological well being advantages of taking part in golf

We requested golfers what particular advantages they’ve personally skilled after taking part in golf.

Distraction
from stress or fear was the main profit from the survey, with 77% of
golfers citing it as a profit. 66% mentioned that they had observed an enchancment in
their temper after taking part in golf, whereas 46% mentioned golf had boosted their vitality
ranges.

Each improved sleep and diminished nervousness have been cited by 43% of golfers. Elevated motivation, shallowness, and a clearer head additionally got here out as standard advantages.

When requested why they thought golf had these advantages, the bulk (92%) mentioned it was the time spent exterior that makes golf so useful from a psychological well being perspective.

90% mentioned it
was purely as a result of they loved golf, whereas 89% mentioned doing one thing bodily
lively was a think about why golf had helped them.

Curiously,
87% of golfers mentioned that taking part in golf had improved their psychological well being as a result of
it meant they have been in a position to spend time with others. In the meantime, solely 20% mentioned it
was as a result of they have been in a position to spend time alone. This could counsel that the
social interplay aspect of golf is a key think about why so many individuals cite it
as a optimistic psychological well being affect.

Assembly new individuals, making buddies, mind stimulation, and improved endurance have been additionally among the many advantages of golf acknowledged by these surveyed.

Golf and psychological well being: business consciousness

Though 41% of golfers in our survey agreed that their psychological well being had improved with age, the identical share mentioned there’s nonetheless not sufficient psychological well being consciousness within the UK golf business, and 45% mentioned they weren’t certain.

Abstract

Whereas there
have undoubtedly been main strides in psychological well being consciousness in golf, and
sport usually, in recent times, it’s clear we nonetheless have a method to go.

The extra psychological well being is talked about and accepted, the extra snug these struggling will really feel about opening up. ‘Preserve speaking’ is our parting message.