Depression in Danish and Swedish elite football players and its relation to perfectionism and anxiety

TY - JOUR

T1 - Depression in Danish and Swedish elite football players and its relation to perfectionism and anxiety

AU - Jensen, Stine Nylandsted

AU - Ivarsson, Andreas

AU - Fallby, Johan

AU - Dankers, Silke

AU - Elbe, Anne Marie

N1 - CURIS 2018 NEXS 136

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relation of perfectionism and anxiety to depressive symptoms in Danish and Swedish male elite football players. Additionally, the relationship between age and the study variables, and differences between elite junior and professional players were examined. Design and Methods. A cross-sectional design was used to survey 323 A-squad and U19 players (M age = 22.08 years, SD = 5.15). The survey included biographical information as well as measures of depressive symptoms, perfectionism (strivings and concerns), competitive anxiety, and social phobia. Results. Results revealed an overall prevalence rate for depressive symptoms among the participants of 16.7%. Moreover, correlation analyses showed evidence of the relationships between depression and perfectionistic concerns, competitive anxiety and social phobia. The results of a mediation analysis demonstrated that there was a positive indirect effect of perfectionistic concerns on depression via competitive anxiety. Significant negative correlations between age and anxiety, social phobia, and perfectionistic concerns were found. Depression, however, was not significantly correlated with age even though elite junior players’ depression levels were significantly higher than those of professional players and they showed higher levels in competitive anxiety and social phobia. Conclusions. Findings of the study indicate that more awareness of mental health in elite football is needed, and that the investigated psychological factors may be a starting point for establishing preventive programs and supportive interventions for footballers suffering from depressive symptoms.

AB - Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relation of perfectionism and anxiety to depressive symptoms in Danish and Swedish male elite football players. Additionally, the relationship between age and the study variables, and differences between elite junior and professional players were examined. Design and Methods. A cross-sectional design was used to survey 323 A-squad and U19 players (M age = 22.08 years, SD = 5.15). The survey included biographical information as well as measures of depressive symptoms, perfectionism (strivings and concerns), competitive anxiety, and social phobia. Results. Results revealed an overall prevalence rate for depressive symptoms among the participants of 16.7%. Moreover, correlation analyses showed evidence of the relationships between depression and perfectionistic concerns, competitive anxiety and social phobia. The results of a mediation analysis demonstrated that there was a positive indirect effect of perfectionistic concerns on depression via competitive anxiety. Significant negative correlations between age and anxiety, social phobia, and perfectionistic concerns were found. Depression, however, was not significantly correlated with age even though elite junior players’ depression levels were significantly higher than those of professional players and they showed higher levels in competitive anxiety and social phobia. Conclusions. Findings of the study indicate that more awareness of mental health in elite football is needed, and that the investigated psychological factors may be a starting point for establishing preventive programs and supportive interventions for footballers suffering from depressive symptoms.

KW - Competitive anxiety

KW - Depressive symptoms

KW - Elite athletes

KW - Perfectionistic concerns

KW - Perfectionistic strivings

KW - Social phobia

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042729902&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.02.008

DO - 10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.02.008

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85042729902

SN - 1469-0292

VL - 36

SP - 147

EP - 155

JO - Psychology of Sport and Exercise

JF - Psychology of Sport and Exercise

ER -