Will There Be a Rise in Depression Amongst Pickleball Players?
Recent research published in Leisure Studies (J. Heo et al., Serious Leisure and Depression in Older Adults: A Study of Pickleball Players (2018)) shows that playing pickleball decreases the rate of depression in older adults. With that in mind, what will the impact of the coronavirus pandemic have on the mental health of our pickleball community?
Over half of the United States' population (and more than 20 states) are under stay-at-home mandates. While a topic of great debate in the pickleball community, most pickleball players have temporarily given up recreational pickleball play (although some are finding creative ways to play in their home or otherwise on their property). With pickleball play on hiatus, what outlet could possibly fill the void of pickleball, which is a terrific balance of physical activity and social connection? This may be a real issue for the pickleball population, and the absence of pickleball could have a real effect on the pickleball population's mental health.
What are you doing to fill the pickleball void? Share with us in the comments below and share with your pickleball community to help improve everyone's well-being during these uncertain times.
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Also in Pickleball Blog
Team Waters Takes Pickleball on Vacation in Costa Rica
Since returning to professional pickleball this year, after taking a long COVID hiatus, Leigh and Anna Leigh Waters have been traveling the country for pickleball tournaments. But, one thing that that they have not done in a really long time is take a family vacation... until now. Learn about Team Waters' trip to Costa Rica from Leigh herself, which included as much, or more, pickleball than at home in Florida, monkey spectators, family bonding, surfing, and a lot of new friends made on the Costa Rican pickleball courts, which reminded them how much fun the great sport of pickleball really is.
Lessons from the Pickleball Court: Encourage the Kids to Play
Stacie Townsend
Author