Psychological Balance in High Level Athletes: Gender-Based Differences and Sport-Specific Patterns

Key Points

• To assess sex-based differences and sport-specific patterns in the prevalence and presentation of psychopathology among elite athletes.
• Evaluated psychological balance and mental health profiles across male and female high-level athletes across various sport disciplines.
• Compared disorder prevalence and sex-specific patterns in athletes to established epidemiological rates in the general population.
• Overall prevalence of psychological disorders in elite athletes does not exceed rates reported in the general population.
• Sex-based differences in psychopathology mirror the standard distribution patterns observed in the broader general population.
• Disorder variations across different sporting disciplines indicate that specific athletic demands and environmental constraints influence distinct psychopathological risks.