“You Wanna Ride, Then You Waste”: The Psychological Impact of Wasting in National Hunt Jockeys

McGuane, Tanya; Shannon, Stephen; Sharp, Lee; Dempster, Martin; Breslin, Gavin

doi:10.1123/tsp.2018-0059

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…The use of laxatives, appetite suppressants and diuretics has also been described, although all three have been prohibited among jockeys worldwide since 1999. 11 15 16 18 19 51 52 …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Developing awareness for jockeys outside of the sport of horse racing is important given jockeys’ unidimensional identity. 11 This could involve programmes related to dual career and planning for life after a career as a jockey.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such behaviours (eg, wasting) are accepted and embedded within the culture of horse racing performance. 11 16 Lastly, help-seeking among the jockey population appears low, with research highlighting that stigma and the need to appear stoic reported as key barriers to accessing professional psychological support services. Jockey-specific programmes that consider the profession’s unique stressors and sports culture are required.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mental health difficulties among professional jockeys: a narrative review

King

Cullen

McGoldrick

et al. 2021

BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med

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IntroductionEmerging academic literature and high-profile disclosures of mental health difficulties and mental illness from current and former professional jockeys suggest that further exploration of the mental health of jockeys is required. To date, a comprehensive review of jockeys’ mental health has yet to be conducted.ObjectivesTo examine the existing literature related to jockeys’ mental health, including the prevalence of symptoms associated with mental health difficulties and help-seeking.DesignA narrative review of the literature was conducted with articles screened from inception until January 2021.ResultsSixteen studies were included in the narrative review. Studies covered a range of mental health difficulties which included mood (depression), anxiety, distress, disordered eating and substance misuse. Rates of help-seeking among jockeys were also explored. Results indicated that jockeys reported higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms compared with other elite athletes. Substance misuse, in particular adverse alcohol use, also appears greater among jockeys than other elite athletes. Distress symptoms appear comparable with other elite athletes. Risk factors for mental health difficulties included injury, perceived stress, athlete burnout, career dissatisfaction and the contemplation of retirement. Weight-making negatively impacts jockeys’ mood and attitudes towards eating, with lower competitive riding weights associated with more disordered eating attitudes. Moreover, help-seeking from mental health professionals appears low.ConclusionThe review identifies a high prevalence of symptoms of mental health difficulties among professional jockeys. Applied recommendations and future research considerations are proposed throughout the review article.

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“…The use of laxatives, appetite suppressants and diuretics has also been described, although all three have been prohibited among jockeys worldwide since 1999. 11 15 16 18 19 51 52 …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Mental health difficulties among professional jockeys: a narrative review

King

Cullen

McGoldrick

et al. 2021

BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med

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“…Finally, we recommend that equestrian sporting bodies urgently need health and safety provisions to reduce concussion prevalence in equestrian athletes, such a delaying the return to riding after a suspected concussion. Ultimately, this research joins a growing body of evidence (Beable et al , 2017; McGuane et al , 2018; Losty et al , 2018; Butler-Coyne et al , 2019; King et al , 2020) outlining ethical considerations and risk factors for mental health in equestrian sports, wherein athletes could benefit from evidence-based mental health awareness and self-management interventions, specifically those targeting depression and provisions to provide additional rider safety for the prevention of concussion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When designing interventions for equestrians it will be important to consider the interrelated continuums of mental health and mental illness in the equestrian athlete (Keyes, 2002). The growing body of research on equestrian athletes reflects a complex reality where equestrianism both helps and hinders well-being and may simultaneously contribute to mental illness (Butler-Coyne et al , 2019; Lungano et al , 2019; McGuane et al , 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resilience, well-being, depression symptoms and concussion levels in equestrian athletes

McGivern¹,

Shannon²,

Breslin³

2021

JPMH

Self Cite

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Purpose This paper aims to conduct the first cross-sectional survey on depression, Resilience, well-being, depression symptoms and concussion levels in equestrian athletes and to assess whether past concussion rates were associated with depression, resilience and well-being. Design/methodology/approach In total, 511 participants from Canada, Republic of Ireland, UK, Australia and USA took part in an international cross-sectional, online survey evaluating concussion history, depression symptoms, resilience and well-being. Findings In total, 27.1% of athletes met clinically relevant symptoms of major depressive disorder. Significant differences were shown in the well-being and resilience scores between countries. Significant relationships were observed between reported history of concussion and both high depression scores and low well-being scores. Practical implications Findings highlight the need for mental health promotion and support in equestrian sport. Social implications Results support previous research suggesting a need for enhanced mental health support for equestrians. There is reason to believe that mental illness could still be present in riders with normal levels of resilience and well-being. Originality/value This study examined an understudied athlete group: equestrian athletes and presents important findings with implications for the physical and mental health of this population.

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