OMOROGIEVA Joel Emwanta

This work is aimed at investigating the impact of sports on the mental health and self-esteem of student athletes using university of benin as a case study. Four research questions were raised for the study. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consisted of 235 student athletes of the University of Benin. The data was collected using simple random sampling technique and a sample size of 118 student athletes from university of Benin. The research Instrument used for the study was a self-structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed using frequency and percentage for the analysis of the research questions. The results revealed that sports plays a crucial role on student athletes’ mental health and self-esteem such as stress, fatigue, emotional fluctuations, burnout rates etc. In conclusion, student athletes are attempting to get better in sports performance but lack the full knowledge on sports psychology and the failure to practice the known coping strategies leads to a decline in their participation and performance, they should also train together and work along with their coaches by having a close relationship with them. All these improve their mindset and help to improve their performance and overall wellbeing. Recommendations are made that student athletes should approach the topic with an open mind and avoid making assumptions or judgments. By acknowledging the value of sports in promoting mental wellbeing and self-esteem, people can develop a better understanding and appreciation for its impact.