THE ROLE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN COMPETITIVE SPORT: PREVALENCE, RISK FACTORS, AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES OF PSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS AMONG ATHLETES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6490Keywords:
Mental Health, Elite Athletes, Sports Psychiatry, Competitive Sports, Psychiatric ConditionsAbstract
Background. Historically, the sports culture has prioritized "mental toughness," often viewing psychological vulnerability as a contradiction to elite performance. However, growing evidence suggests that competitive athletes face a unique constellation of various stressors, which if not identified early and treated adequately, may result in mental health disorders.
Aim. To draw attention to the importance of psychological well-being of an athlete detailing prevalence, risk factors and specifics of various mental health conditions in competitive sports and to outline the role of integrated management strategies.
Material and methods. A narrative review of existing literature was conducted, incorporating cross-sectional surveys, prospective cohort studies and systematic reviews focused on elite and ultra-endurance athletes.
Results. Prevalence rates for mental health symptoms in athletes are comparable or even higher than among the general population, with depression and anxiety affecting up to 34% of elite cohorts. Specific risk factors include musculoskeletal injuries, career transitions, and the individual nature of certain sport disciplines.
Conclusions. Integrated management requires a core multidisciplinary team (CMT) to provide holistic care that balances clinical stability with athletic performance maintenance.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Laura Kobaka, Maurycy Jabłoński, Klaudia Jurga, Jakub Chołast, Jakub Kacer, Julia Kacer, Wiktoria Łuniewska, Jakub Niepokój, Marta Modrzyk
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