Key result
During early COVID-19, ~27% of collegiate athletes report clinical depression, with females reporting higher rates.
Why the study?
The onset of COVID-19 and cancellation of collegiate sports may have exacerbated psychological distress among student-athletes.
Cross-Sectional (n=5,755)
Yes
A significant proportion of collegiate student-athletes experienced clinical levels of depression and stress during the early COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for increased mental health services.
Supports heightened mental health screening in collegiate athletes; leaves open causality, intervention efficacy, and generalizability.
The onset of COVID-19 and cancellation of collegiate sports may have exacerbated student-athletes’ psychological distress. Within a national sample of collegiate athletes (N = 5,755; 66.7% women), we determined how gender and race related to rates of depression, stress, and counseling use at the beginning of the pandemic (April/May 2020). Overall, 26.5% (n = 1,526) and 10.6% (n = 612) endorsed clinical levels of depression and stress, respectively; 25.1% (n = 1,443) and 69.7% (n = 4,014) reported subclinical levels. Few athletes (2.3%–17.1%) reported counseling use before or after the onset of COVID-19; those who did reported higher levels of depression and stress than those who never sought services. The female athletes reported higher rates of depression, stress, and counseling use than the male athletes. There were no race effects. Athletic departments must address their student-athletes’ psychological distress by facilitating a higher use of mental health services.
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Slavin et al. (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in Psychological distress (n=5,755). COVID-19 pandemic and cancellation of collegiate sports was evaluated on Rates of depression, stress, and counseling use. During the early COVID-19 pandemic, 26.5% and 10.6% of collegiate athletes reported clinical levels of depression and stress, with female athletes reporting higher rates than male athletes.
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