DEVELOPING MENTAL FLEXIBILITY AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BY MEANS OF SCHOOL SPORT ACTIVITIES IN ALGERIA

Abstract

This study is aimed at studying the impact of school sports activities on mental flexibility of high school students in Algeria, by comparing participants and non-participants and examining the influence of activity type (individual or team), practice regularity, and duration of experience. A descriptive comparative methodology was adopted, and data were collected from a random sample of 200 students enrolled in Algerian secondary schools during the 2024–2025 academic year, regardless of gender or grade level. Research instruments included a self-administered questionnaire on school sports participation and a standardized mental flexibility scale, while statistical analyses were carried out using Pearson correlation coefficients and independent samples T-tests through SPSS 25. mental flexibility.

The results demonstrated statistically significant differences in favor of students who participated in school sports activities compared to their non-participating peers. More specifically, those engaged in team sports displayed higher levels of mental flexibility than students practicing individual sports. Moreover, participants who exercised three or more times per week achieved significantly better scores in cognitive adaptability, problem-solving flexibility, and creativity than those with less frequent practice. Students with more than one year of continuous sports experience also showed superior results compared to those with shorter engagement, confirming the cumulative benefits of long-term practice.

These findings highlight the essential role of school-based sports in fostering students’ cognitive adaptability, resilience, and innovative thinking. The study concludes that regular and sustained participation in sports – particularly team-based activities – not only enhances physical fitness but also contributes to psychological well-being and cognitive development. Accordingly, it is recommended that Algerian educational institutions integrate structured and diverse sports activities into the curriculum, provide adequate resources and trained staff, and promote a culture that values physical activity as a tool for mental and educational growth. The results further suggest that future research should explore the interaction between sports, cognitive flexibility, and socio-cultural variables in order to design evidence-based interventions for improving both academic performance and life skills among students.