Mental health and psychological well-being among professional rugby league players from the UK

Nicholls, Adam R.; Madigan, Daniel J.; Fairs, Lucas R W; Bailey, Richard

doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000711

Cited by 22 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 23 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Mental Health in Danish Youth Soccer Players the time). Scores ≤23 indicate below average well-being, scores from 24 to 29 indicate average well-being, and scores ≥30 indicate above average well-being (Nicholls, Madigan, Fairs, & Bailey, 2020). The Cronbach α in this study was a satisfactory .81.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 50%

“…The average well-being scores of female soccer players (M = 25.07) are higher than the average of females in the Danish general population (M = 24.10), and the same was noted for male players (M = 27.15) whose average scores are higher than those of general population peers in their age group 16-25 (M = 25.80) years. Compared with U.K. male rugby players (M = 25.07; Nicholls et al, 2020), the Danish male soccer Mental Health in Danish Youth Soccer Players players expressed elevated well-being. Our data show that female soccer players generally express a higher stress level compared with their male counterparts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Mental Health Profiles of Danish Youth Soccer Players: The Influence of Gender and Career Development

Küettel

Durand‐Bush

Larsen

2022

Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The purpose of this study was (a) to investigate gender differences in mental health among Danish youth soccer players, (b) to discover the mental health profiles of the players, and (c) to explore how career progression and mental health are related. A total of 239 Danish youth elite soccer players (M = 16.85, SD = 1.09) completed an online questionnaire assessing mental well-being, depression, anxiety, along with other background variables. Female players scored significantly lower on mental well-being and had four times higher odds of expressing symptoms of anxiety and depression than males. Athletes’ mental health profiles showed that most athletes experience low depression while having moderate mental well-being. Depression, anxiety, and stress scores generally increased when progressing in age, indicating that the junior–senior transition poses distinct challenges to players’ mental health, especially for female players. Different strategies to foster players’ mental health depending on their mental health profiles are proposed.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 50%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Mental Health Profiles of Danish Youth Soccer Players: The Influence of Gender and Career Development

Küettel

Durand‐Bush

Larsen

2022

Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In a previous study using samples similar to this current study, Nicholls et al examined the prevalence and degree of anxiety and depression symptoms in UK professional rugby players [18], and they reported that 18.9% of athletes had mild and 13.7% had moderate/severe symptoms of anxiety. They also reported that the players showed mild (11.6%) and moderate/severe (2.6%) symptoms of depression [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Anxiety and Depression Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation in Japan Rugby Top League Players

Ojio

Matsunaga

Hatakeyama³

et al. 2021

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Clinical and research interest is growing in mental health support for elite athletes, based on findings from epidemiological surveys conducted in Australia, the United States, and European countries. However, little is known about the mental health status of elite athletes in Asia, including Japan. In the current study, we examine the prevalence of mental health problems and suicidal ideation and its risk factors in Japan Rugby Top League players. We analyze anonymous web-based self-reported data from 251 currently competing Japan Rugby Top League male players. During the off-season from December 2019 to January 2020, data on anxiety and depression symptoms were collected using the Japanese version of the 6-item Kessler-6. Suicidal ideation was assessed using the Baron Depression Screener for Athletes. Among the players, 81 players (32.3%) had experienced symptoms of mild anxiety and depression during the previous 30 days, while 12 (4.8%) and 13 (5.2%) had suffered from moderate and severe symptoms, respectively. Nineteen athletes (7.6%) reported that they had experienced suicidal ideation during the previous 2 weeks. Players with mental health problems experienced more events in competitions and daily life, including reduced subjective performance, missing opportunities to play during the last season, changes in health condition, and thinking about a career after retirement, compared with players without such problems. Mental health issues in Japan Rugby Top League players, as elite athletes, may be common, and research and practice development is expected in the near future.

show abstract

“…World Rugby has documented the heavy load on physical and mental health associated with participating in competitive environments, and suggested that further research is needed to develop effective mental health support measures [ 8 ]. Professional rugby league players from the United Kingdom (UK) have exhibited mild (11.6%) or moderate/severe (2.6%) depressive symptoms, and likewise mild (18.9%) or moderate/severe (13.7%) anxiety symptoms [ 9 ]. We have reported comparable prevalence rates among Japan Rugby Top League players [ 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of mental health help-seeking with mental health-related knowledge and stigma in Japan Rugby Top League players

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Globally increasing clinical and research interests are driving a movement to promote understanding and practice of mental health in elite athletes. However, few studies have yet addressed this issue. This study aims to describe the association of the intention to seek help with mental health knowledge and stigma and the severity of depressive symptoms in Japan Rugby Top League players. Methods As a target population, we studied 233 Japan Rugby Top League male players (25–29 years = 123 [52.8%]), who were born in Japan, using a cross-sectional design. Surveys were conducted using anonymous, web-based self-administered questionnaires. Structural equation modelling was performed to evaluate the hypothesis of an interrelationship between mental health knowledge, stigma, and severity of depressive symptoms as factors influencing the intention to seek help. Results Players with more severe depressive symptoms were more reluctant to seek help from others (β = - 0.20, p = 0.03). Players with greater knowledge about mental health tended to have less stigma toward others with mental health problems (β = 0.13, p = 0.049), but tended not to seek help with their own mental health problems. Conclusions Rugby players in need of mental health support, even with greater knowledge, tend not to seek help from others, while having less stigma toward people with mental health problems. Rugby players might require approaches other than a knowledge-based educational approach to encourage them to seek help.

show abstract

Mental health and psychological well-being among professional rugby league players from the UK

Cited by 22 publications

References 23 publications

Mental Health Profiles of Danish Youth Soccer Players: The Influence of Gender and Career Development

Mental Health Profiles of Danish Youth Soccer Players: The Influence of Gender and Career Development

Anxiety and Depression Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation in Japan Rugby Top League Players

Association of mental health help-seeking with mental health-related knowledge and stigma in Japan Rugby Top League players

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About