Mental Health Management of Male and Female Athletes in Sports Organizations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract: Background: Mental disorders, symptoms of mental illness, and prevalence rates of such among athletes are equal to or exceed those of the general population, and research findings have suggested that athletes have more risk factors than the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the far-reaching consequences COVID-19 restrictions have had on the world of sport. The study aimed to compare athletes’ mental health at the ‘end’ of the pandemic with non-athletes, and whether non-athletes and athletes received mental health support during the pandemic and how it affected their mental health. Methods: Quantitative cross-sectional data was collected using an online questionnaire based on the four measures; DASS-21, ISSB, ARSQ, and the COVID-19 pandemic and mental health survey. Participants included 83 athletes (25 men, 58 females) and 83 non-athletes (25 men, 58 females) aged 18-65+ years. Participants were recruited through social media and recruitment flyers. Results: No statistically significant differences were found between the self-reported mental health status of athletes and non-athletes. The findings indicate that athletes receive support with little or no impact on their mental health. The opposite was true for the non-athlete population, whose mental health deteriorated after receiving support. The reception of emotional support slightly decreased athletes’ anxiety about COVID19, while the reception of informational and tangible support increased the symptoms of non-athletes’ anxiety, depression, and COVID19 anxiety. Conclusion: Athletes can receive support with no effect or a slight improvement in perceived mental health, whereas nonathletes experience a worsening after receiving support. The way sports organizations and coaches support athletes could suggest that crisis management in the future may benefit from taking cues from the specific methods they use.