DOUR

SPORTS ARE THE LONELINESS ANTIDOTE
Psychologists and other experts at the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) performed a national survey of more than a thousand girls ages 7 to 13 and asked them (among other things) what they like best about playing sports. At the top of their list? “Making friends and feeling part of a team.” A different survey of more than 10,000 girls from fifth to 12th grade, produced by the nonprofit Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX) in partnership with the NCAA and called “The Girls’ Index,” found that, overall, female athletes use social media at lower rates than their peers and also experience less sadness and depression. In an era when social isolation and mental health issues including social media–fueled comparison anxiety are at an all-time high among young people, the peer bonding and sense of community provided by team sports are needed more than ever.