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

Abstract

Although research shows that chronic stress and specific stressful events (e.g. injury, failure) are associated with depressive symptoms in athletes, connections between chronic, major stressors and depressive symptoms are yet unknown. Therefore, the goal of the study was to gain new findings between major stressors and their relations to depressive symptoms and chronic stress. A total of 134 elite athletes provided data in an online survey. In addition to quantitative measurements (current depressive symptoms, and level of chronic stress), possible stressors were assessed qualitatively with an open ended question. By using content analysis to explore stressors, three different types of stressors were categorized: Double burden, sport specific demands, and conditions. Further statistical analysis found these stressors to be associated with dropout intentions, depression and chronic stress. Athletes, who reported sport specific demands (such as high training loads) as major stressors indicated higher levels of chronic stress and depressive symptoms than athletes without major stressors. Further research investigating sources of stress and its association to depressive syndromes in athletes could benefit from considering sport specific factors.

Maladaptive coping strategies and neuroticism mediate the relationship between 5HTT-LPR polymorphisms and symptoms of anxiety in elite athletes.

“…A growing body of evidence suggests that elite athletes may suffer from subsyndromal symptoms of depression and anxiety (i.e., symptoms not meeting the threshold for a formal DSM diagnosis) as a result of significant sport-related stressors (e.g., injury, performance failure, over training, club/organizational climate, negative group dynamics/peer interaction) [1,2,3,4,5,6].…”

Commentary: The Experience of Depression during the Careers of Elite Male Athletes

“…Currently little is known about the prevalence and etiology of depression in the athletic population (Nixdorf et al, 2015). Almost 75% of mental health difficulties first emerge between the ages of 15 and 25 (Kessler et al, 2005).…”

Sports Competition Stressors Based on K-Means Algorithm

“…These will have a certain pressure impact on the athletes' psychology. Pressure coping has become a problem that cannot be ignored in today's competitive sports [2,3]. Therefore, many scholars and experts have paid more attention to the field of competition pressure.…”