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Psychological distress and wellbeing in UK olympic and paralympic athletes

Ranson, Craig, Leyland, Sandra, Board, Lisa, Jaques, Rod and Currie, Alan (2021) Psychological distress and wellbeing in UK olympic and paralympic athletes. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 55. A54-A55. ISSN 1473-0480

Item Type: Article

Abstract

Background Despite the known mental health benefits of exercise the prevalence of mental health symptoms and disorders in high performance athletes appears to be slightly higher than in the general population and athletes with disabilities may be especially at risk. However data is scarce and valid comparisons are difficult. Objective To gauge the prevalence of psychological distress and the level of wellbeing amongst UK Olympic and Paralympic programme athletes. Design Cross-sectional questionnaire cohort study. Setting UK Olympic and Paralympic, summer and winter sport athletes. Patients (or Participants) 394 athletes from 29 sports. Interventions (or Assessment of Risk Factors) Between October 2018 and June 2019, participants completed the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and the World Health Organisation-Five Well-Being Index (WHO5) questionnaires that indicate levels of psychological distress and subjective wellbeing respectively. Main Outcome Measurements Percentage of athletes reporting low, moderate, high and very high psychological distress. Percentage of athletes reporting high and low wellbeing. Results 24% of athletes reported high or very high psychological distress. More Paralympic that Olympic athletes reported high/very high distress (27% vs 22%). The mean distress score was comparable to age matched population samples. 19% of athletes reported low psychological wellbeing and this was more common in Paralympic athletes than Olympic athletes (23% vs 17%). The mean wellbeing score was comparable to age matched population samples. Conclusions UK Olympic and Paralympic athletes report psychological distress and wellbeing levels similar to aged matched populations. Paralympic athletes have slightly higher levels of distress and lower wellbeing than Olympic athletes and this may relate to disability specific stressors. Sport programmes should have robust mental health support plans that includes regular athlete screening and commensurate support services with additional specific support for athletes with disabilities.

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More Information

Depositing User: Sandra Leyland

Identifiers

Item ID: 15965
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2021-IOC.127
ISSN: 1473-0480
URI: http://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/15965
Official URL: http://www.bjsm.bmj.com/

Users with ORCIDS

ORCID for Craig Ranson: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3783-0505
ORCID for Sandra Leyland: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3998-0670
ORCID for Lisa Board: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-1244-0818
ORCID for Rod Jaques: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1183-4636
ORCID for Alan Currie: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5617-4868

Catalogue record

Date Deposited: 15 May 2023 12:43
Last Modified: 11 Jul 2023 08:02

Contributors

Author: Craig Ranson ORCID iD
Author: Sandra Leyland ORCID iD
Author: Lisa Board ORCID iD
Author: Rod Jaques ORCID iD
Author: Alan Currie ORCID iD

University Divisions

Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing > School of Nursing and Health Sciences > Department of Sport and Excercise Sciences

Subjects

Sciences > Sport Sciences

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