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Although numerous authors have associated metal music with social problems such as suicide, self-destruction and Satanism, few studies have been undertaken to examine the mental health of fans of heavy metal music. This study attempts to determine if there is a link between mental health and the enjoyment of this type of music in France. The researchers surveyed 333 fans of metal music. Their mental health was evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), a widely used instrument that measures anxiety and depression. The scores of the sample of metal music fans were then compared to the scores that reveal possible, probable, or severe mental disorders. Qualifying variables included age, gender, status, education, motivation and participation in metal music culture. The results indicated that fans of metal music are mainly young adults (median age = 22.67, SD = 5.29) and tend to be male (87.85 percent). As a whole, metal music fans have levels of anxiety and depression that are similar to and lower than levels in the general population. Specifically, \5 percent of metal music fans surveyed showed pathological symptoms. Subjects that scored higher levels of anxiety and depression were those that had literary and/or arts backgrounds rather than scientific backgrounds, that wrote metal music lyrics, that consumed alcohol and that engaged in the body modification practice of scarification. This study suggests that opponents of metal music should re-examine the basis for their criticism. More scholarly research is needed to better understand the effects of metal music on fans and on society.

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Data from a representative sample of 2474 French youth show that, despite a 7-year French Ministry of Health strategy for nutrition and physical activities, adolescents' motivation to practise sports and physical activities decreased significantly between 2001 and 2008. While this paper focuses on the context of physical activity in France, the general discussion may be applicable to other countries concerned with the obesity pandemic.

Familial influence towards sport in general is well documented in the scientific literature. But what about the influence of family when the same sporting activity is practiced by parents, children, cousins or grandparents? Does it have an impact on sporting motivations, involvement and expertise of participants? he authors interviewed 1132 track and field athletes (1.03% of the total population of track and field athletes aged 13 to 60 in France) by measuring their motivation towards athletics with the Vallerand Sports Motivation Scale SMS 28. Age, gender, social status and familial networks were used as independent variables. The results show that having other family members affiliated to the same club and/or participating in the same sporting activity, not only affects sport motivations and involvement, but also the athletes’ level of expertise. Family members are prone to inculcate habits and values, but also to support, help and encourage relatives in sporting activities.