Study links social aspects of pickleball to improved student energy levels

A recent pilot study conducted in Japan suggests that participating in a single session of pickleball may lead to immediate improvements in vitality among first-year university students. The findings indicate that the sport could serve as an accessible option for physical education programs aimed at supporting student mental health through social interaction and exercise. The research was published in the Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology.

The global popularity of pickleball has surged in recent years, drawing attention to its potential benefits beyond simple recreation. While the positive effects of regular physical activity on long-term physical and mental health are well-established, there is less evidence regarding the immediate psychological impact of specific sports on younger demographics. Previous research on pickleball has predominantly focused on older adults and the benefits of long-term participation. Consequently, it remains unclear whether a single, short-term session can produce measurable mood changes in university students.

First-year university students represent a population that faces specific challenges. This transition period is often accompanied by developmental and academic pressures that can impact mental well-being. Educational institutions frequently seek practical ways to enhance student health and retention through physical activity programs. Recent systematic reviews have highlighted that incorporating physical activity into university curricula can improve mental health outcomes. However, there is a need for activities that are easy to learn and socially engaging.

Pickleball is viewed as a promising candidate for these programs because it combines moderate-to-vigorous physical exertion with a strong element of social interaction. The sport is known for being accessible to beginners and allows for mixed-gender participation.

“We were motivated by a practical gap: while physical activity is known to support mental health, there is limited evidence on the immediate psychological effects of specific, socially interactive sports among university students, especially in real educational settings. Because pickleball is easy to learn and highly social, we examined whether one class session could be associated with short-term mood changes in first-year students,” explained study author Goichi Hagiwara, a professor at Kyushu Sangyo University.

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To investigate this, the researchers recruited 106 first-year students enrolled in a sports science course at a Japanese university. The sample consisted of 75 men and 31 women with an average age of roughly 18 years. Most participants had experience with competitive sports generally but had little or no prior experience playing pickleball. The researchers organized the activity within a standard 100-minute class period. The session began at 11:00 a.m. to minimize variations in mood that might be caused by the time of day.

The students were divided into 12 teams, which had been formed randomly earlier in the semester. The session featured a doubles tournament using a single-elimination format. Each match consisted of a best-of-three-sets structure, with every set lasting five minutes.

To ensure everyone remained active, teams that were eliminated from the main tournament were encouraged to play friendly matches against other eliminated teams or to cheer for their peers. This design allowed the researchers to observe the effects of the sport in a realistic educational setting rather than a strictly controlled laboratory environment.

To assess changes in mood, the researchers employed the Two-Dimensional Mood Scale. This assessment tool is designed to capture momentary psychological states rather than stable personality traits. The scale focuses on two fundamental axes: pleasure and arousal. Based on these axes, the scale categorizes mood into four distinct dimensions. These dimensions are vitality, stability, pleasure, and arousal. Participants completed the scale immediately before and after the class to measure any fluctuations in these states.

In addition to the quantitative scale, the students were given the option to provide written feedback regarding their experience. This allowed the researchers to gather qualitative data on student sentiment and to interpret the statistical findings with greater context. The combination of numerical data and open-ended responses provided a more comprehensive view of how the students perceived the activity.

The analysis of the data revealed a statistically significant increase in vitality scores following the pickleball session. This suggests that the students felt more energetic and lively after playing. The data also showed positive trends for pleasure and arousal, although these specific increases did not reach the threshold for statistical significance. The scores for stability remained largely unchanged.

When the researchers compared the results between male and female participants, they found no significant differences. This indicates that the mood-enhancing benefits of the activity were similar across genders.

The researchers observed that the baseline vitality scores were relatively high even before the activity began. This high starting point may have limited the magnitude of the observed increase, a phenomenon known as a ceiling effect. The anticipation of the tournament or the social nature of the pre-existing groups might have contributed to these elevated pre-activity scores. Despite this, the increase in vitality remained statistically significant.

“Even modest changes can still be meaningful if such activities are repeated or embedded within supportive environments,” Hagiwara said.

Qualitative responses provided further context for the statistical findings. A majority of the students described the activity as fun or good. Approximately one-quarter of the written comments referenced themes related to social interaction, such as cooperation and exchange.

These responses suggest that the social aspect of the game was a key component of the students’ enjoyment. Some students mentioned winning in their reflections, often in relation to the group experience. This highlights that the collaborative aspects of the tournament helped shape the emotional response.

The study authors noted that while most responses were positive, enjoyment appeared linked to active participation. One student noted that active engagement was necessary to benefit from the experience. This aligns with previous research suggesting that emotional fulfillment from leisure activities is a better predictor of well-being than casual participation alone. The frequent use of positive language in the open-ended responses supports the conclusion that the tournament format was engaging for the students.

“The main takeaway is that participating in the session was associated with a modest improvement in vitality (feeling more energized) immediately after the activity,” Hagiwara told PsyPost. “Other mood indices showed positive but non-significant trends. This does not mean pickleball is a cure for mental health problems; rather, accessible and enjoyable group activities may offer small short-term benefits in everyday contexts.”

But the study, like all research, includes some caveats. The absence of a control group means that it is difficult to determine whether the improvements in mood were caused specifically by playing pickleball. Other factors could have influenced the results, such as the excitement of competition or simply taking a break from academic work. The sample was comprised entirely of sports science students who likely have a higher affinity for physical activity than the general student population.

Despite these limitations, the study provides preliminary evidence that pickleball can be an effective tool for improving mood in university students. The findings support the idea that incorporating socially interactive sports into university physical education can contribute to student well-being.

“Future controlled and repeated-session studies are needed,” Hagiwara said. “We hope to test the findings using more rigorous designs (e.g., control conditions, repeated sessions, and comparisons of competitive vs. recreational formats) and to examine how social interaction and participation structure relate to student well-being.”

The study, “Exploring the Impact of Pickleball for Improving Mood in First-Year University Students—A Pilot Study in Japan,” was authored by Max Nghiem Lee, Michael Benjamin Fung, and Goichi Hagiwara.