Key result
In adult rugby players, the prevalence of mental health symptoms ranged from 6% (depression) to 68.8% (alcohol use/misuse), with most rates similar to the general population.
Why the study?
The study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of mental health symptoms and disorders in rugby players.
What is the prevalence of mental health symptoms and disorders in adult rugby players?
Systematic Review
What is the prevalence of mental health symptoms and disorders in adult rugby players?
Adult rugby players exhibit higher rates of alcohol misuse and eating disorders compared to the general population, highlighting a need for targeted mental health support and more inclusive epidemiological research.
Highlights need for targeted screening of alcohol misuse in rugby players; extends general-population comparisons while underscoring gaps in inclusive research.
The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the prevalence of mental health symptoms and disorders in rugby players. Six electronic databases were searched in December 2020. Studies were included if they provided quantitative data on mental health symptoms and disorders and consisted of adult rugby players. Eight studies were included, covering symptoms of anxiety, depression, alcohol use/misuse, distress, sleeping/sleep disturbance, and eating disorders/adverse nutrition behaviors. Prevalence of mental health symptoms ranged from 6% (depression) to 68.8% (alcohol use/misuse). Most rates were similar to the general population, while symptoms of sleeping/sleep disturbance were lower, and symptoms of eating disorders/adverse nutrition behaviors and alcohol use/misuse were higher than the general population. One study included female rugby players. Epidemiological evidence comprising of rigorous diagnostic data and inclusive of gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, and other protected characteristics is needed to inform future mental health support in this population.
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Oftadeh-Moghadam et al. (2022) conducted a systematic review in Mental health symptoms and disorders. Rugby playing vs. General population was evaluated on Prevalence of mental health symptoms and disorders. In adult rugby players, the prevalence of mental health symptoms ranged from 6% (depression) to 68.8% (alcohol use/misuse), with most rates similar to the general population.
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