Mental health management of elite athletes during COVID-19: a narrative review and recommendations

Reardon, Claudia L.; Bindra, Abhinav; Blauwet, Cheri; Budgett, Richard; Campriani, Niccolo; Currie, Alan; Gouttebarge, Vincent; McDuff, David; Mountjoy, Margo; Purcell, Rosemary; Putukian, Margot; Rice, Simon; Hainline, Brian

doi:10.1136/bjsports-2020-102884

Cited by 98 publications

(97 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…According to the results of statistical analysis, it is seen that the health literacy average scale scores of the athletes participating in the study are quite high, while coronavirus anxiety is low. Contrary to our study, in studies in which the anxiety levels of elite athletes were measured in the literature, it was found that the anxiety levels of elite athletes were high [35,36,37]. Many elite athletes spend this period in the home environment uncertainly, they have to train on their own and without supervision, the dates of the competition are not clear, these situations make this process difficult for the athletes [35,36].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Contrary to our study, in studies in which the anxiety levels of elite athletes were measured in the literature, it was found that the anxiety levels of elite athletes were high [35,36,37]. Many elite athletes spend this period in the home environment uncertainly, they have to train on their own and without supervision, the dates of the competition are not clear, these situations make this process difficult for the athletes [35,36]. Hull et al [37] state that the sudden cancellation and postponement of international competitions (Tokyo Olympics, etc.)…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

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The relationship between college athletes' health literacy and COVID-19 anxiety levels

Uğraş

Sağin

Karabulut

et al. 2021

PES

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Background and Study Aim. Health literacy is the ability to access health information, understand, evaluate and apply health information. The health literacy of athletes may be determinant in the understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic process and in the level of the impact of this health-related anxiety factor. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine whether there is a relationship between college athletes' COVID-19 anxiety levels and their health literacy levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods. College athletes between the ages of 18 and 32 participated in the study and the average age was 24.2. A total of 234 elite collage athletes participated in the study. 133 of the participants were males and 101 were females. COVID-19 Anxiety Scale was used to determine the COVID-19 anxiety states and Health Literacy index was used to the level of health literacy of the participants in the COVID-19 pandemic process. Pearson correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis were performed for statistical analyses. Significance level in analysis has been accepted as p. < 05. Results. Our findings revealed that there were significant relationships between elite athletes' health literacy sub-dimension scores and COVID-anxiety level. In addition, it was determined that access to information and understanding information sub-dimensions from health literacy sub-dimensions predicted elite college athletes’ the COVID-19 anxiety level at 21.2%. As a result, elite college athletes had low levels of anxiety against COVID-19, and this situation associated with their high level of health literacy. Conclusions. The increase of elite college athletes' the level of health literacy will decrease their anxiety levels. It will be beneficial to implement training programs that can increase their health literacy levels in order to reduce the impact of the unexpected health crisis due to COVID-19, especially the anxiety levels of college athletes.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

The relationship between college athletes' health literacy and COVID-19 anxiety levels

Uğraş

Sağin

Karabulut

et al. 2021

PES

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“…Sjöberg defined perceived risk as an individuals’ psychological evaluation of the probability and consequences of an adverse outcome (29). Our analyses suggest that an increasing total of active COVID-19 cases is associated with higher levels of anxiety confirming the assumptions of Reardon et al who stated that the COVID-19 pandemic could cause anxiety in elite athletes, which was confirmed by our findings (30). Addressing anxiety in athletes is particularly relevant as their livelihood depends on their ability to perform in training and competition.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Association of COVID-19 incidence with objectively and subjectively measured mental health proxies in the Austrian Football League: an epidemiological study

Zee-Neuen

Seymer

Schaffler-Schaden

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Objective We aimed to explore the association of COVID-19 incidence with mental health in 225 team and staff members of five professional Austrian Football clubs captured by objective (location variance) or subjective (self-reported sleep quality, level of recovery, perceived risk of infection) mental health proxies. Methods Data collected during the implementation of a novel monitoring concept to enable safe continuation of professional Football during the COVID-19 pandemic were matched with Austrian COVID-19 incidence data and smartphone collected location data (time-period June 17th to July 31st, 2020). Multivariable linear regression models explored the association of COVID-19 incidence, defined as daily novel or active cases of COVID-19, with the objective and subjective health proxies while adjusting for the occurrence of one COVID-19 case in a staff member in one of the clubs, team status (i.e. player vs staff) and game days. Results Data from 115 participants were analysed. An increasing number of novel COVID-19 cases was significantly associated with deteriorating sleep quality (B 0.48, 95% CI 0.05; 1.00) but with none of the other mental health proxies. An increasing number of active COVID-19 cases was significantly associated with an increase in perceived infection risk (B 0.04, 95% CI 0.00; 0.07) and location variance (B 0.28, 95% CI 0.06; 0.49). Conclusion The adverse association of an increasing COVID-19 incidence with mental health in professional Footballers and staff members became obvious particularly in subjectively measured mental health. During the ongoing pandemic, targeted mental care should be included in the daily routines of this population.

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“…COVID-19 has impacted the way of life of individuals worldwide, leading to a deterioration in emotional well-being, with several studies, including those in athletic populations, reporting an increase in stress, anxiety and depressive symptomology (Cullen et al, 2020 ; Holmes et al, 2020 ; Pierce et al, 2020 ; Reardon et al, 2020 ). Few studies have investigated the implications of COVID-19 on community level athletes (Asif et al, 2020 ; Mann et al, 2020 ) and the ability of athletes to cope during the pandemic (Makarowski et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Survey to Evaluate the Association of COVID-19 Restrictions on Perceived Mood and Coping in Australian Community Level Athletes

Fox-Harding

Harris

Rogers

et al. 2021

Front. Sports Act. Living

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Highlights:No differences in coping or well-being in Australian community athletes based on the level of support received during COVID-19 restrictions.Community level athletes had better coping when a training program was provided.No difference between individual or team community athletes for well-being or coping scores. Australian community level athletes faced unprecedented changes to their training and competition options as the global COVID-19 pandemic took a stronghold. This disruption was predicted to have a negative impact on emotional well-being as communities braced through periods of social isolation and physical distancing requirements. This study provides an Australian perspective on the emotional well-being of community level athletes and the extent to which they coped during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emotional well-being and coping were measured using the Brief Emotional Experience Scale and the 28-item Brief Cope Scale. Both instruments were administered along with other questions pertaining to participant demographics and training status via an online survey between April and June 2020. The survey was disseminated to community athletes through word-of-mouth and social media platforms. No significant differences in emotional well-being were observed between athlete groups as a result of COVID-19 and its associated restrictions. Coping scores also appeared to be preserved in Australian community athletes, which contrasts the impact expected as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While tentative, the observed preservation in coping may have buffered potential declines in emotional well-being, which has been documented in professional and semi-professional athletes and the general population. These unexpected findings and tentative suppositions warrant further investigation and highlight the importance of conducting a country- or region-specific approach to examining the impact of COVID-19 on community athletes, as responses to COVID-19 are undoubtedly not consistent throughout the world.

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Mental health management of elite athletes during COVID-19: a narrative review and recommendations

Cited by 98 publications

References 74 publications

The relationship between college athletes' health literacy and COVID-19 anxiety levels

The relationship between college athletes' health literacy and COVID-19 anxiety levels

Association of COVID-19 incidence with objectively and subjectively measured mental health proxies in the Austrian Football League: an epidemiological study

A Survey to Evaluate the Association of COVID-19 Restrictions on Perceived Mood and Coping in Australian Community Level Athletes

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