Depression and Resilience in Youth Mixed Martial Arts Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

INTRODUCTION: Youth participation in mixed martial arts (MMA) has increased in recent years; however, the psychological impact of participation on mental health remains relatively unexplored. To date, no studies have specifically examined depression and resilience in youth MMA athletes. The objective of this study was to evaluate rates of depression and resilience among youth MMA participants. METHODS: Youth MMA athletes aged 8-17 were surveyed from January to April 2024 using the validated Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC 2) to assess depression and resilience, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact tests, and ANOVA. RESULTS: A total of 276 athletes were recruited via email and in person at a Youth National event. Of these, 108 participants completed the surveys fully (39% response rate). The mean SMFQ depression score was 1.26, with 4 athletes (3.7%) screening positive for depression using the SMFQ cutoff of 8. The mean CD-RISC 2 resilience score was 6.97. No significant differences in depression or resilience scores were observed based on age, gender, race, training hours, weight-cutting practices, parental coaching, injury history, or years of competition experience (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study provides baseline data on depression and resilience among youth MMA athletes. Compared with peers of similar age reported in the literature, youth MMA participants in this study had lower depression scores and higher resilience scores. Further large-scale longitudinal studies are warranted to guide mental health resources for youth MMA athletes as the sport continues to grow.