Key result
Female athletes report ~51% higher prevalence of severe depression than male athletes during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Why the study?
Cancellation of sports training, movement restrictions, and social isolation during the COVID-19 outbreak presented an emotional challenge for athletes.
Cross-Sectional (n=488)
Absolute Event Rate: 20.3% vs 13.4%
p-value: p=0.016
A significant proportion of athletes in Malaysia experienced severe emotional distress during the COVID-19 lockdown, highlighting the need for mental health monitoring and support, particularly for female athletes.
Supports targeted mental health surveillance in female athletes during restrictions; leaves open causal mechanisms and generalizability beyond Malaysia.
Background. The outbreak of Coronavirus-19 or COVID-19 has detrimental effects on the sports industry. Cancellation of sports training and competitions, movement restriction, and social isolation present an emotional challenge for athletes. Objectives. This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of emotional distress among athletes during the MCO of Covid-19 in Malaysia. Methods. 224 male and 264 female athletes participated in this study in May 2020. The majority of the participants were archers (20.7%), followed by athletics (12.9), netball (8.4%), and badminton (6.6%). An online survey was employed, which consists of three measures: (a) demographic information, (b) Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale -21, and (c) Kessler Psychological Distress Scale -10. Results. The results indicated that 7.2% (N=35) of the participants reported severe to extremely severe stress, 20.5% (N=100) of participants experienced severe to extremely severe anxiety, and 10% (N=49) participants reported severe to extremely severe depression. Moreover, Chi-Square analysis revealed no significant differences between the level of stress, anxiety, and depression based on age, gender, and category of sports (individual vs. team sports), except for gender and depression (X 2 (4, N=488) = 12.18, P= 0.016). More female athletes reported severe depression (20.3%) compared to male athletes (13.4%). Conclusion. This finding suggests further assessment, monitoring, and treatment plan for athletes, especially female athletes, to ensure their mental health and emotional wellbeing during this Covid19 pandemic.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Txi et al. (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in Emotional distress (n=488). Female athletes vs. Male athletes was evaluated on Severe depression (p=0.016). Female athletes reported a significantly higher prevalence of severe depression (20.3%) compared to male athletes (13.4%) during the COVID-19 Movement Control Order in Malaysia.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: