Playing for Freedom
A Phenomenological Exploration Into Team Sports’ Perceived Influence on PTSD Symptoms in Military Veterans
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22158267 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jeffrey M Ward (0009-0000-9577-716X, SUNY Oneonta, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 36-54 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-13 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Veterans Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2470-4768 • E-ISSN: 2470-4768 |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech Libraries (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.21061/jvs.v12i1.814 |
| OpenAlex | W7128837696 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 49 |
Guided by social cognitive theory, this qualitative study examines how participation in team sports shape PTSD symptoms and psychological well-being among military veterans. Using phenomenological interviews with eight veterans actively engaged in team sports, this study explored shifts in perceptions of PTSD and recovery. Findings indicate benefits veterans described as lifesaving, including attenuation of suicidal ideation, stronger peer support, and renewed identity and purpose. Team participation fostered a sense of belonging, structure, and accountability, which veterans linked to increased resilience and motivation to reengage with family, work, and community. The results suggest that team sports can function as a practical, community-based component of veteran care, complementing clinical services while remaining accessible and low-cost. Implications include designing inclusive programs that prioritize psychological safety, trust, and peer leadership, with routine assessment of engagement and perceived outcomes. This study contributes to veteran studies by foregrounding team sport as a structured, nonclinical intervention and by offering evidence to guide sport managers and support providers seeking to integrate sport with holistic models of care
Athletes · Cognition · Foregrounding · Interpretative phenomenological analysis · Mental health · Perception · Psychological resilience · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Sport Psychology and Performance
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Physical Activity and Sports—Real Health Benefits
Social cognitive theory of posttraumatic recovery
Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for improving depression, anxiety and distress
An examination of the anxiolytic effects of exercise for people with anxiety and stress-related disorders
Psychotherapy for Military-Related PTSD
Longitudinal linkages between perceived social support and posttraumatic stress symptoms
Exercise training increases size of hippocampus and improves memory
A systematic review of the psychological and social benefits of participation in sport for adults
Biological mechanisms underlying the role of physical fitness in health and resilience
Health Promotion by Social Cognitive Means
A narrative review of exercise intervention mechanisms for post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans
The Evolution Of Social Cognitive Theory
Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research
Challenges for providing health care in traumatized populations
Unveiling the Influence of Competitive Sports on the Sense of Self and Identity of Disabled Veterans
Treatment initiation and dropout from prolonged exposure and cognitive processing therapy in a VA outpatient clinic
Impact of an 8-Week Exercise and Sport Intervention on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, Mental Health, and Physical Fitness among Male Refugees Living in a Greek Refugee Camp
Transforming communities through sport? critical pedagogy and sport for development
The Behavior Change Technique Taxonomy (v1) of 93 Hierarchically Clustered Techniques
The Effects of Surfing and the Natural Environment on the Well-Being of Combat Veterans
The Constant Comparative Method of Qualitative Analysis
Stress and Health
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |