Are you into music or sports? Exploring the associations of music and sport identity with mental and physical health through underlying psychological and behavioral pathways

PeerJ. 2026 Jun 4;14:e21286. doi: 10.7717/peerj.21286. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Leisure activities are essential for building and maintaining a sense of identity, which can significantly impact mental and physical health. Previous research has largely focused on the frequency of engagement in these activities, overlooking the role of identity. Therefore, this cross-sectional online survey examined how music and sports identities relate to health outcomes. To gain more insights into potential internal (psychological) and external (behavioral) pathways underlying these associations, we further explored self-efficacy and health behavior as mediators. A total of 206 adult participants who regularly engage in leisure sports or music activities completed an online survey assessing their identification as (hobby) musicians and sportspersons, mental and physical health, self-efficacy, and health behavior. Using path modeling, we found that a strong sports identity is associated with better mental health, while no direct effects were observed for physical health. Music identity did not directly relate to mental or physical health. However, mediation analyses revealed that both sport and music identities are linked to improved mental health through increased self-efficacy and to better physical health through enhanced health behaviors. These findings suggest that leisure identities play an indirect but crucial role in health, mediated by self-efficacy and health behavior. This knowledge may inform the development of leisure interventions aimed at promoting physical and mental health by raising awareness for the role of leisure identities and addressing self-efficacy beliefs and health behaviors.

PMID:42261310 | PMC:PMC13242741 | DOI:10.7717/peerj.21286