IMPACT OF SAILING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Abstract
The practice of sailing in children and adolescents offers numerous benefits, including muscle strengthening, enhanced cardiovascular endurance, and improved coordination and balance. Sailing also provides unique advantages such as teamwork, marine safety, and ecological awareness. This study aims to determine the physical and psychological health benefits of sailing for children and adolescents. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, covering the period from 2000 to 2020. Ten observational and descriptive studies were evaluated. Research on the benefits of sailing is sparse. The identified benefits span physical (improved coordination, balance, and grip strength), mental (enhanced emotional regulation, self-esteem, reduced depressive symptoms, and better self-concept), and social domains (overcoming barriers to participation and developing life skills).