Cumulative lifetime stress exposure, depression, anxiety, and well-being in elite athletes: a mixed-method study

McLoughlin, E ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3630-6055, Fletcher, D, Slavich, GM, Arnold, R and Moore, LJ, 2021. Cumulative lifetime stress exposure, depression, anxiety, and well-being in elite athletes: a mixed-method study. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 52: 101823. ISSN 1469-0292

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Abstract

Research suggests that elite athletes are at increased risk of poor mental health, partly due to the intense demands associated with top-level sport. Despite growing interest in the topic, the factors that influence the mental health and well-being of elite athletes remain unclear. From a theoretical perspective, the accumulation of stress and adversity experienced over the life course may be an important factor. To investigate this possibility, we employed a mixed-method design to: (a) examine whether cumulative lifetime stress predicted depression, anxiety, and well-being in elite athletes; and (b) help explain why cumulative lifetime stress exposure might have resulted in poor mental health and well-being. Ninety-five elite athletes (Mage = 29.81, SD = 10.88) completed the Stress and Adversity Inventory, Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, and the Scales of General Well-Being. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that total count and severity of lifetime stressor exposure significantly predicted greater depression (β = .42, p < .001; β = .46, p < .001) and anxiety symptoms (β = .34, p = .003; β = .28, p = .018), and worse well-being (β = -.42, p < .001; β = -.30, p = .015). Semi-structured interviews were then conducted with six athletes. Thematic analysis revealed that cumulative lifetime stress exposure fostered poor mental health and well-being by promoting maladaptive long-term coping strategies, increasing susceptibility to future stress, and limiting interpersonal relationships. These findings can help practitioners identify, and intervene accordingly with, elite athletes at risk of experiencing stress-related mental health problems.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Psychology of Sport and Exercise
Creators:	McLoughlin, E., Fletcher, D., Slavich, G.M., Arnold, R. and Moore, L.J.
Publisher:	Elsevier BV
Date:	January 2021
Volume:	52
ISSN:	1469-0292
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101823 DOI 1616693 Other
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Laura Ward
Date Added:	08 Nov 2022 13:48
Last Modified:	08 Nov 2022 13:48
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/47348

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