Pickleball and Mental Health: Pickleball is doing more than keeping people active—it’s helping improve mental health too. New studies from 2023 to 2025 show that playing pickleball can reduce depression, improve mood, sharpen the brain, and bring people closer together. These benefits apply to children, adults, seniors, and even people with mental health challenges.
Big Mental Health Gains from Pickleball
Many recent studies show how helpful pickleball can be. A 2023 study in Frontiers in Psychology reviewed 13 research papers with about 2,500 older adults. It found that players felt happier, less stressed, and more satisfied with life.
Data from around 250,000 Apple Watch users in the Apple Heart & Movement Study found that people who played pickleball were 60.1% less likely to feel depressed. That’s even more than tennis players, who had a 51.3% lower risk.
In younger players aged 8 to 18, a 2024 study in Leisure/Loisir found that 90% said pickleball improved their mood, and 98% said it had a good effect on their lives. A pilot study from Brigham Young University showed that each extra monthly game increased mental well-being scores.
Pickleball is also being used in clinical settings. A 2025 Sports Journal study looked at patients with schizophrenia who played pickleball three times a week for nine weeks. Their coordination and focus improved a lot, with hit scores going from 5.3 to 10.7. However, their symptoms and self-esteem stayed the same.
In a 25-year study published in Neurology, people who regularly played racket sports like pickleball had a lower risk of getting dementia.
Why Pickleball Helps the Brain and Mood
Pickleball helps mental health in three key ways: exercise, thinking, and connection with others.
Exercise and brain health
Pickleball is a fun aerobic activity. It increases brain chemicals like BDNF, IGF-1, and VEGF, which help the brain grow and deal with stress. It also boosts blood flow to the brain, which helps with focus and quick decision-making.
Mental challenge
Playing pickleball requires quick thinking, reacting fast, and planning shots. These mental tasks help strengthen memory and thinking skills more than just walking or jogging.
Making friends and feeling connected
Pickleball is social. Players talk, laugh, and compete in a friendly way. This helps fight loneliness, which is a major cause of depression. The game also triggers feel-good chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins, which improve mood naturally.
Real Stories and Growing Impact
Many people have felt the benefits of pickleball in their own lives. Betsy Fischer from Hamilton County, Ohio, said, “felt very isolated and depressed,” but after playing weekly games, she shared that it “gave me confidence, community, and hope.”
In Chicago, Illinois, Adventure Church has used pickleball to bring teens and older adults together. They say it helps people connect and reduce the shame often linked to mental health struggles.
Even in prisons in Georgia and California, pickleball is helping. Staff have seen less aggression and more teamwork among inmates who play.
Famous pop star Dua Lipa uses pickleball to relax during her concerts. Posters from her tour show her enjoying games backstage.
There are also early results from programs for people recovering from addiction or mental illness. These programs report that pickleball helps improve focus and builds comfort with social contact.
Experts agree on its benefits. Dr. Ryan Glatt from the Pacific Neuroscience Institute said, “Activities like pickleball combine movement, cognitive challenge, and socialization—an ideal trifecta for brain health.”
Dr. Calum MacRae, a cardiovascular neurologist, added, “Coordinated group activities, such as pickleball, trigger cascading mental resilience benefits.”
What This Means for the Future
Playing pickleball two to three times a week may lower depression risk by over 60%. It can also help players feel happier, think more clearly, and build stronger relationships. Its low cost, simple rules, and fun nature make it an easy way to support mental well-being for people of all ages and backgrounds.
News in Brief: Pickleball and Mental Health
Pickleball is showing strong mental health benefits in recent studies. It helps reduce depression, improves mood and memory, and connects people socially. From seniors to teens and even prison inmates, playing just a few times a week may bring lasting emotional and mental health improvements.
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