GOLF AND MENTAL HEALTH STUDY

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. According to a study by the UCM – RFEG Chair of Communication and Golf, the socialization aspect, the fact that it can be practiced by people of all ages, and that it is played outdoors make golf a very suitable sport for combating mental illnesses.

The UCM-RFEG Communication and Golf Chair has presented, within the framework of the Communication and Business Cup – a series of events to promote the values of golf – a study that shows that people who play golf show fewer mental health problems.

The research of this Extraordinary Chair, carried out by the doctors of the School of Medicine of the Complutense University of Madrid Pilar Martín Escudero, Elena Jiménez Herranz and Manuel Fuentes Ferrer, has determined that the general population shows a level three times higher of mental health disorders than golf players.

The research, based on a questionnaire validated by the Goldberg scale, brought together a battery of direct questions because "in this matter you have to ask directly," said Pilar Martín Escudero.

The report reveals “overwhelming” results, as only 20 out of 297 respondents reported mental health issues. Furthermore, 771% of respondents believe golf improves their emotional state and recommend it, especially those who were more likely to experience emotional decline and have personally witnessed the benefits of playing golf.

Dr. Martín Escudero stated that “it has been proven that sport in general helps improve mental health. And golf, in particular, has a positive effect due to its necessary interaction, so practicing this sport in company improves mental health and helps prevent social dysfunctions.”.

Golfer José Manuel Heras shared his story as a person with POEMS syndrome, whose life was tragically cut short fifteen years ago when he found himself confined to a wheelchair. Through hard work and resilience, he found golf to be the perfect sport for his circumstances, even declaring that "golf saved my life, because I had fallen into a cycle where my recurring thought was to request euthanasia.".

According to this study, the golfer least likely to experience a decline in mental health is a man over 45, married, and employed. Furthermore, playing 18 holes regularly throughout the week in the morning for many years is associated with a lower likelihood of mental health decline.