User:BT28/Sport psychology

Mental Health in Sport Psychology
Mental health plays a big role in an athlete's performance. As of in 2016, the research done on the mental health of athletes was underdeveloped and unreliable. Some common stressors that affect an athlete's mental health are injuries, underperforming, and environmental factors. With these stressors plus others, the athletes are now prone to deeper mental health issues including anxiety and depression. However, some athletes use the sport as a way of escape, somewhere to hide from the mental issues they are currently facing, whether that be depression and anxiety, or a more complex diagnosis.

'''A systematic review conducted in 2023 found that sports participation was generally associated with better mental health and psychological well-being compared to non-participants. The review reported that individuals engaged in sports experienced fewer depressive symptoms and higher levels of social connectedness. Notably, team sports were linked to better mental health outcomes than individual sports, highlighting the role of social interactions and support. Additionally, longitudinal studies within the review suggested that sports participation during childhood or young adulthood might reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms in later life. However, while elite athletes reported higher levels of body satisfaction, self-esteem, and life satisfaction, they also experienced greater psychological distress. The studies included in the review were selected from nine electronic databases, covering research published between 2012 and 2020. It is crucial to consider potential biases in the findings. Participants who choose to engage in sports may have a predisposition towards better mental health, which could skew the results. Furthermore, the reliance on self-reported measures to assess mental health outcomes may affect the reliability of the findings. '''

'''Recent advancements have introduced tools such as the Sport Mental Health Recognition Tool 1 (SMHRT-1), developed by the International Olympic Committee's Mental Health Working Group. This tool is designed to help recognize, though not diagnose, mental health problems in athletes. Intended for use by athletes, coaches, family members, and others in an athlete's support network, the SMHRT-1 lists various experiences—thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and physical changes—that could indicate mental health issues. A 2020 study describes the development of the SMHRT-1 through reviews of scientific literature, data collection via electronic questionnaires from athletes and coaches, and validation of the tool through an observational study. The findings suggested that the SMHRT-1 is beneficial for sports medicine physicians and other health professionals working with elite athletes, and that its triage, screening, and clinical assessment steps were deemed appropriate by nearly 90% of respondents. However, the reliance on self-reported measures and the focus on a specific group of elite athletes may limit the generalizability of the findings to broader athlete populations or to non-elite athletes. '''

It is difficult to find evidence pertaining to mental health in athletes because many studies on mental health don't generally focus on mental health in athletes specifically.