There are significant sex differences in the types of mental health symptoms reported by elite athletes, highlighting the need for tailored monitoring and resources.
Female and male athletes have significant differences in reported mental health symptoms. Female athletes are more likely to report anxiety, depression, distress, and disordered eating, while male athletes report more alcohol misuse, illicit drug abuse, and gambling. Monitoring and evaluation of mental health is a necessary part of any sport, including access to resources. Longitudinal studies following athletes over time to determine the development and causation for mental health symptoms should be included in future research directions.
Kew et al. (Sun,) studied this question.