ASICS Global State of Mind: adolescence vs. adulthood

ASICS Global State of Mind: study shows link between sports played during adolescence and mental well-being in adulthood

ASICS Global State of Mind.
ASICS
announced the results of its second“Global State of Mind” study, confirming the positive link between physical activity and mental well-being. Conducted on more than 26,000 people in 22 countries, the research shows that regular exercise during adolescence has a lasting impact on mental well-being in adulthood. In Italy, for example, those who practice sports regularly have an average score of 60/100 on mental well-being, compared with 47/100 for those who are inactive. The average Italian result is 59/100, lower than the global average of 65/100. The study also shows a worrying decline in physical activity among young people, negatively impacting their future mental well-being.

This generational gap in sports is alarming: younger and younger people are becoming less and less active, impacting their State of Mind. In Italy, one-third (33%) of the Silent Generation (those over 78 years old) reported leading an active lifestyle on a daily basis in early childhood, compared to just 9% of Gen Z (between 18 and 27 years old), thus confirming that younger generations are less active and give up physical activity earlier than those before them. Those who are part of Gen Z in Italy have a significantly lower average score of 57/100, compared to the Baby Boomers (59-77 years old) score of 63/100 and the Silent Generation score of 65/100.

Professor Brendon Stubbs, a leading researcher in the field of exercise and mental health at King’s College London, said, “It is worrying to see this decline in activity levels by younger respondents at such a critical age, especially since the study found an association with lower well-being at age
adult. Gen Z people around the world already show lower State of Mind results than the Silent Generation, so this could have a huge impact on future mental well-being worldwide.”

ASICS emphasizes the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle from a young age to ensure optimal mental well-being throughout life.