Mental health symptoms in German elite athletes: a network analysis

Sheila Geiger; Lisa Maria Jahre; Julia Aufderlandwehr; Julia Barbara Krakowczyk; Anna Julia Esser; Thomas Mühlbauer; Eva-Maria Skoda; Martin Teufel; Alexander Bäuerle

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1243804

Mental health symptoms in German elite athletes: a network analysis

Front Psychol. 2023 Nov 23:14:1243804. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1243804. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Sheila Geiger^{1

2}, Lisa Maria Jahre^{1

2}, Julia Aufderlandwehr¹, Julia Barbara Krakowczyk^{1

2}, Anna Julia Esser^{1

2}, Thomas Mühlbauer³, Eva-Maria Skoda^{1

2}, Martin Teufel^{1

2}, Alexander Bäuerle^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LVR-University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
² Center for Translational Neuro-and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
³ Division of Movement and Training Sciences/Biomechanics of Sport, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.

Abstract

Introduction: Elite athletes are exposed to a variety of sport-specific stressors that may put them at particular risk for mental health symptoms and disorders. The aim of the present study was to assess data on mental health of elite athletes and investigate associations and interconnections among different variables using network analysis.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2021 to December 2022. The sample consisted of 275 German elite athletes (167 females) aged ≥18 years. Next to sociodemographic, medical and sport-related data, psychometric data such as psychological distress, symptoms of generalized anxiety, depression, and somatic symptom disorder have been gathered through questionnaires and analyzed by means of network analysis.

Results: Over 95.0% of the athletes showed elevated distress and 28.6% reported symptoms of depression. Results of the network analysis show, among other findings, that symptoms of somatic symptom disorder were associated with severe injuries and substance use. Moreover, elite athletes who reported a better financial situation reported fewer symptoms of depression, generalized anxiety, and somatic symptom disorder. They also reported a lower incidence of mild to moderate injuries and severe injuries, fewer years spent in elite sports, less substance use, and fewer training sessions per week. Conversely, these athletes reported a higher level of distress. Furthermore, sex, financial situation and number of training units per week emerged as significant predictors for mental health symptoms.

Discussion: Elite athletes showed increased numbers regarding mental health symptoms. Providing appropriate mental health interventions for elite athletes and further analysis of factors that influence the mental health of elite athletes and their interplay seem to be of central importance for the general well-being of elite athletes.

Keywords: anxiety; depression; distress; mental health; somatic symptom disorder; sports.

Grants and funding

We thank the Open Access Fund of the University of Duisburg-Essen for supporting the publication of the manuscript.