The influence of physical activity on young people experiencing anger

Abstract

During life trajectories, young people tend to experience increased susceptibility to anger. Although anger is a natural emotion, society tends to misinterpret and stigmatise it. Shedding light on George Engel's biopsychosocial model, developed in the late nineteenth century, argued that anger stemmed from biological, psychological, and social factors. Physical activity promotes emotional stability and social well-being. However, it can also increase anger in competitive settings, shaped by individual interpretations, emotional intelligence, and different personality traits. This study explored anger triggers beyond moral judgement. It evaluated how physical activity and sports influence anger in young people, aiming to provide anger-management tools, while developing practical recommendations for professional application. Through qualitative research, six participants (five males and one female, aged 21-30) who sought professional therapy support for 1 to 10 years, experiencing frequent or situational anger, participated in semi-structured interviews. A purposive and snowballing sampling technique ensured reliable and transparent narratives. The research participants engaged in team sports, including football, and individual activities such as gym workouts, boxing sessions, walking routines, and yoga lessons. The researcher processed the data using reflexive thematic analysis, which helped to establish coherent themes. The study's findings revealed that individuals exhibited anger as a result of trauma-related emotional responses and cognitive interpretations shaped by familial relationships, peer pressures, and societal pressure. Physical activity provided short-term emotional relief but lacked long-term anger management benefits, while competitive and commercialised environments frequently elicited anger. A major concern for PA was its association with emotional dependency as its role in the participants` identity formation was highlighted, where possible cessation jeopardised their future emotional stability. Effective anger interventions suggest the integration of physical activity with mindfulness practices, music, writing sessions, talk therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, and spiritual approaches. Community interventions with cross-sector cooperation support should prioritise emotional well-being. Consequently, youth workers, educators, and policymakers must work in synergy to include physical activity in mental health strategies. Meanwhile, educational institutions must unify physical activity initiatives with emotional intelligence education to promote holistic wellbeing. Additionally, youth transitioning out of physical activity require structured support plans to maintain their emotional stability, which points to the risks of dependency. The research advocates the exploration of possible earlier youth intervention programmes to promote equal weight for emotional development and academic success, while continuing to empower youth and society to challenge the existing social stigma associated with anger.