<p>The American Psychological Association (<a href="https://www.apa.org/topics/exercise-fitness/stress" rel="nofollow noreferrer">APA, 2020</a>) points out that:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1586/17446651.1.6.783" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Research</a> shows that while exercise initially spikes the stress response in the body, people experience lower levels of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine after bouts of physical activity.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>So yes. Exercise can help to deal with negative life events and for completeness, the article linked in the APA page is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1586/17446651.1.6.783" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Hackney (2010)</a>.</p>
<p>One interesting point they make next is that:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>So far, there's little evidence for the popular theory that exercise causes a rush of endorphins. Rather, one line of research points to the less familiar neuromodulator norepinephrine, which may help the brain deal with stress more efficiently. Research in animals since the late 1980s has found that exercise increases brain concentrations of norepinephrine in brain regions involved in the body's stress response.</p>
<p>Norepinephrine is particularly interesting to researchers because 50% of the brain's supply is produced in the locus coeruleus, a brain area that connects most of the brain regions involved in emotional and stress responses.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>References</h2>
<p>APA. (2020). <em>Working out boosts brain health</em> <a href="https://www.apa.org/topics/exercise-fitness/stress" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.apa.org/topics/exercise-fitness/stress</a></p>
<p>Hackney, A. C. (2006). Stress and the neuroendocrine system: the role of exercise as a stressor and modifier of stress. <em>Expert review of endocrinology &amp; metabolism, 1</em>(6), 783-792. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1586/17446651.1.6.783" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1586/17446651.1.6.783</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-27T15:28:46.690Z
2021-09-27T15:28:46.690Z
Chris Rogers
<p>I found studies on how leisure activities can positively affect well-being, e.g. stress reduction.<br>
My question is more specific as I want to research how participation in sport can help one deal with difficult life circumstances like for instance loss of a loved one or abuse.  Academic literature in this area seems to be very scarce.  </p>

<p>My aim would be to bring out the implications for counselling practice and demonstrate that sport participation is effective in dealing with negative life events. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-29T23:50:27.823Z
Yeah, there's tons. What's research have you done on this? By going to `scholar.google.com` and searching "sport as psychological therapy" I found this article "Exercise treatment for depression: Efficacy and dose response". Alternatively, if you're looking more at the effect of team sports, you're going to have to be more specific.
Seanny123
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-30T09:00:00.890Z
Welcome to CogSci. This is definitely too broad of a question I'm afraid. Adding your area of interest would be a prerequisite for this post to stay up (say - '*can sport be used as a therapeutic, clinical tool against depression*' *etc.*). Adding any prior research effort helps too. 'Gimme the reference' questions are a bit 'too easy'. Please edit your question to bring it into focus and add some background.
AliceD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-30T20:09:28.527Z
I found studies on the positive effect of  leisure activities on well-being and quality of life, e.g. Stress reduction.  However my question is more specific as it relates to how sport participation can help one cope with a negative life event like loss of a loved one or abuse.  Literature in this area seems very scarce.  My main aim would be to demonstrate how sport can be an alternative counselling tool when dealing with difficult life circumstances.
user17385
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-01T18:30:27.437Z
@user17385 why is the reference I've given you not valid? Also, are you looking for a specific aspect of sport, such as camaraderie, the emotional skills acquired or something else?
Seanny123
<cognitive-psychology><social-psychology><emotion><reference-request><sport-psychology>
Can sport be used as a counselling tool to help one deal with negative life events?
user17385
# Can sport be used as a counselling tool to help one deal with negative life events?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-10-29)

I found studies on how leisure activities can positively affect well-being, e.g. stress reduction.  
My question is more specific as I want to research how participation in sport can help one deal with difficult life circumstances like for instance loss of a loved one or abuse. Academic literature in this area seems to be very scarce.

My aim would be to bring out the implications for counselling practice and demonstrate that sport participation is effective in dealing with negative life events.

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, social-psychology, emotion, reference-request, sport-psychology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Yeah, there's tons. What's research have you done on this? By going to `scholar.google.com` and searching "sport as psychological therapy" I found this article "Exercise treatment for depression: Efficacy and dose response". Alternatively, if you're looking more at the effect of team sports, you're going to have to be more specific.  
> **username_2**: Welcome to CogSci. This is definitely too broad of a question I'm afraid. Adding your area of interest would be a prerequisite for this post to stay up (say - '*can sport be used as a therapeutic, clinical tool against depression*' *etc.*). Adding any prior research effort helps too. 'Gimme the reference' questions are a bit 'too easy'. Please edit your question to bring it into focus and add some background.  
> **username_0**: I found studies on the positive effect of  leisure activities on well-being and quality of life, e.g. Stress reduction.  However my question is more specific as it relates to how sport participation can help one cope with a negative life event like loss of a loved one or abuse.  Literature in this area seems very scarce.  My main aim would be to demonstrate how sport can be an alternative counselling tool when dealing with difficult life circumstances.  
> **username_1**: @username_0 why is the reference I've given you not valid? Also, are you looking for a specific aspect of sport, such as camaraderie, the emotional skills acquired or something else?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-09-27. Score: 1

The American Psychological Association ([APA, 2020](https://www.apa.org/topics/exercise-fitness/stress)) points out that:

> [Research](https://doi.org/10.1586/17446651.1.6.783) shows that while exercise initially spikes the stress response in the body, people experience lower levels of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine after bouts of physical activity.

So yes. Exercise can help to deal with negative life events and for completeness, the article linked in the APA page is [Hackney (2010)](https://doi.org/10.1586/17446651.1.6.783).

One interesting point they make next is that:

> So far, there's little evidence for the popular theory that exercise causes a rush of endorphins. Rather, one line of research points to the less familiar neuromodulator norepinephrine, which may help the brain deal with stress more efficiently. Research in animals since the late 1980s has found that exercise increases brain concentrations of norepinephrine in brain regions involved in the body's stress response.
>
> Norepinephrine is particularly interesting to researchers because 50% of the brain's supply is produced in the locus coeruleus, a brain area that connects most of the brain regions involved in emotional and stress responses.

## References

APA. (2020). *Working out boosts brain health* <https://www.apa.org/topics/exercise-fitness/stress>

Hackney, A. C. (2006). Stress and the neuroendocrine system: the role of exercise as a stressor and modifier of stress. *Expert review of endocrinology & metabolism, 1*(6), 783-792. <https://doi.org/10.1586/17446651.1.6.783>


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