THE ROLE OF FOOTBALL IN ADOLESCENTS’ PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND WELLBEING: SELF-ESTEEM, PEER SUPPORT, AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION

This research tries to identify the role of football in promoting psychosocial development among adolescents, focusing on three key dimensions: self-esteem, peer support, and emotional regulation. Drawing from Erikson’s psychosocial development theory and Positive Youth Development (PYD) frameworks, the research explores how regular participation in football influences these variables. Data were collected using structured questionnaires from 100 adolescent football players from Kerala. Statistical analysis revealed significant positive relationships between football participation and all three psychosocial factors. Moreover, gender differences were observed, with male adolescents reporting higher levels of self-esteem, peer support, and emotional regulation than females. These findings highlight football’s potential as a developmental tool that fosters psychological resilience and social connectedness during adolescence. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating structured sports programs into youth development initiatives and recommends future research to explore long-term impacts and gender-inclusive strategies for maximizing football's psychosocial benefits.