Effects of the lockdown period on the mental health of elite athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a narrative review

Vittoria Carnevale Pellino; Nicola Lovecchio; Mariangela V Puci; Luca Marin; Alessandro Gatti; Agnese Pirazzi; Francesca Negri; Ottavia E Ferraro; Matteo Vandoni

doi:10.1007/s11332-022-00964-7

Effects of the lockdown period on the mental health of elite athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a narrative review

Sport Sci Health. 2022;18(4):1187-1199. doi: 10.1007/s11332-022-00964-7. Epub 2022 Jun 8.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Adapted Motor Activity (LAMA)- Department of Public Health, Experimental Medicine and Forensic Science, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
² Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Tor Vergata Rome, Rome, Italy.
³ Department of Human and Social Science, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy.
⁴ Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Experimental Medicine and Forensic Science, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
⁵ Laboratory for Rehabilitation Medicine and Sport (LARMS), 00133 Rome, Italy.
⁶ Department of Research, ASOMI College of Sciences, Marsa, 2080 Malta.

Abstract

Purpose: This review aimed to assess the effects of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on mental health to elite athletes. The emotional background influenced their sport career and was examined by questionnaires.

Methods: We included original studies that investigated psychological outcomes in elite athletes during COVID-19 lockdown. Sixteen original studies (n = 4475 participants) were analyzed.

Results: The findings showed that COVID-19 has an impact on elite athletes' mental health and was linked with stress, anxiety and psychological distress. The magnitude of the impact was associated with athletes' mood state profile, personality and resilience capacity.

Conclusion: The lockdown period impacted also elite athletes' mental health and training routines with augmented anxiety but with fewer consequences than the general population thanks to adequate emotion regulation and coping strategies.

Keywords: COVID-19; Elite athletes; Lockdown; Mental health; Psychological distress.

Publication types

Review