Student athletes are disciplined and dedicated young people, able to balance the requirements of practice and games with increasing academic demands as they enter high school and approach college years. Some student athletes even manage a part-time job or similar personal responsibilities making the daily demands and stressors of today’s youth comparable to the average adult. Young people are often simultaneously managing family issues and stressors along with peer relationships, keeping up with classes, homework, and assignments, and for student athletes, ensuring that their performance on the court or in the field is up to standard. Our increasingly fast-paced and highly competitive society coupled with these demands has made mental health awareness a leading concern for parents, teachers, coaches, and the community of student athletes themselves. In addition to the life stressors that contribute to or worsen mental health concerns among adolescent athletes, there is also the controversy surrounding head injuries and repetitive head impact among this population that can have numerous immediate and future mental health consequences (Montenigro et al., 2017). Head injuries and concussions among youth athletes have been associated with the development of depression, migraines, ADHD, learning disabilities, and sleep disorders (Solomon, Kuhn, & Zuckerman, 2015) among other emotional and physical concerns.
Some of the mental health risks and issues among youth athletes include bullying perpetration or victimization, fighting, lower levels of daily/regular physical activity, sexual risk behaviors, and alcohol and drug use (Johnson & McRee, 2015). Rates of alcohol abuse and binge drinking are higher among both male and female athletes compared to non-athlete young people and while alcohol use often decreases during competitive seasons, it increases in between seasons (Armstrong, Burcin, Bjerke, & Early, 2015). Alcohol use and abuse can contribute to and/or worsen mental health concerns and place young athletes at risk of additional issues that associated with emotional health such as academic problems and alcohol risk behaviors such as unsafe sex practices. Eating disorders have been found to be common among young athletes particularly those who engage in sports where weight status is an important factor related to performance (Armstrong et al., 2015). Overtraining, which contributes to exhaustion, sleep deficits, low self-esteem, appetite disturbance, irritability, anxiety, poor concentration, and decreased performance, is also a common issue among youth athletes and is associated with mental health concerns (Armstrong et al., 2015). There are many factors related to participation in sports and the life factors and stressors associated with adolescent development. These variables create an interplay that leads to and perpetuates mental health concerns among youth athletes. It is critical to identify and target the various factors that place adolescent athletes at risk of emotional problems.
References
Armstrong, S. N., Burcin, M. M., Bjerke, W. S., & Early, J. (2015). Depression in student athletes: A particular at-risk group? A systematic review of the literature. Athletic Insight, 7(2), 177-193.
Johnson, K. E. & McRee, A. L. (2015). Health-risk behaviors among high school athletes and preventive services provided during sports physicals. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 29(1), 17-27. doi 10.1016/j.pedhc.2014.05.007
Montenigro, P. H., Alosco, M. L., Martin, B. M., Daneshvar, D. H., Mez, J., Chaisson, C. E.,…Tripodis, Y. (2017). Cumulative head impact exposure predicts later-life depression, apathy, executive dysfunction, and cognitive impairment in former high school and college football players. Journal of Neurotrauma, 34, 328-340. doi 10.1089/neu.2016.4413
Solomon, G. S., Kuhn, A. W., & Zuckerman, S. L. (2015). Depression as a modifying factor insport-related concussion: A critical review of the literature. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 44(1), 14-19. doi https://doi.org/10.1080/00913847.2016.1121091