Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms and Correlating Variables Among German Elite Athletes

Abstract

Depression among elite athletes is a topic of increasing interest, but empirical data are rare. The present study aimed to provide insight into the prevalence of depressive symptoms among German elite athletes and possible associated factors. In an online survey of 162 athletes, we explored depressive symptoms, chronic stress, coping strategies and stress-recovery states. Results indicated an overall prevalence of 15% for depression among elite athletes (n = 99), and revealed higher levels of depressive symptoms among the individual athletes than the team athletes. Furthermore, correlation analyses showed a significant connection between high levels of depressive symptoms and high levels of chronic stress, negative coping strategies and negative stress-recovery states. Results indicate that the prevalence for depressive symptoms in elite athletes is comparable to that in the general German population. Moreover, exploratory analyses provide first indications of factors associated with depressive symptoms.

An Explorative Study on Major Stressors and Its Connection to Depression and Chronic Stress among German Elite Athletes

“…And indeed, whether one takes into consideration the important tournaments and potential sporting injuries (acute stress) or the frequency of tournaments and training sessions (chronic stress), the life of an athlete can be regarded as "stressful". Nixdorf et al (2013) found support for this assumption, indicating high associations between chronic stress and depressive syndromes, as well as between different coping strategies and depressive syndromes in elite athletes. But which are the main stressors, connected to experiences of chronic stress and depressive syndromes?…”

“…Regarding the population of athletes in elite sports, stress is also discussed in relation to depressive syndromes according to Puffer & McShane (1992). Recent results (Nixdorf, Frank, Hautzinger, & Beckmann, 2013;Schaal et al, 2011) indicate that prevalence rates between 4% and 15% in elite athletes seem comparable to the general population in Europe (cf. .…”

Prevalence of depression and anxiety in top-level male and female football players

“…Many studies focused on college athletes in the USA, [12][13][14][15][16][17][18] and few investigated the top-level national athletes. [19][20][21] Many studies included athletes from various sports without providing prevalence data for specific types of sport. 12 13 17-20 22 Up to now, only one study reported mental health problems of active high-level male football How might it impact on clinical practice in the near future?…”

“…Further, significantly higher average depression scores were observed in individual rather than in team sport athletes. 20 Thus, differences in the athletes' characteristics may have contributed to the heterogeneous results in addition to the methodological problems mentioned above. Very little information about the prevalence of anxiety in active athletes was found in the literature.…”

Depression and anxiety symptoms in 17 teams of female football players including 10 German first league teams

“…Yang et al 17 and Wolanin et al 14 showed substantial differences between sports (see table 1). Further, differences in the prevalence rates of depression have been reported between professionals, junior and amateur athletes,18 between adult and U-17 football players,10 as well as between different playing positions10 20 and level of play 10 20. Injured players have usually higher depression rates than uninjured players 6 21 22.…”