학술논문
Comparative Study of the Long-Term Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Nutritional Practices Among International Elite and Sub-Elite Athletes: A Sample of 1420 Participants from 14 Countries
Document Type
Original Paper
Author
Taheri, Morteza; Saad, Helmi Ben; Washif, Jad Adrian; Reynoso-Sánchez, Luis Felipe; Mirmoezzi, Masoud; Youzbashi, Leila; Trabelsi, Khaled; Moshtagh, Mozhgan; Muñoz-Helú, Hussein; Mataruna-Dos-Santos, Leonardo Jose; Seghatoleslami, Ali; Torabi, Farnaz; Soylu, Yusuf; Kurt, Cem; Vancini, Rodrigo Luiz; Delkash, Shabnam; Rezaei, Marjan Sadat; Ashouri, Mahdi; Tahira, Shazia; Sayyah, Mansour; Chtourou, Hamdi; Dergaa, Ismail; Strahler, Jana; Guimarães-Mataruna, Andressa Fontes; Lebaron, Tyler W.; Ezdini, Ebrahim Shaabani; Alizade, Ardeshir; Zouhal, Hassane; Tarnava, Alexander T.; Clark, Cain; Bigdeli, Nooshin; Ammar, Achraf; Eken, Özgür; Ayed, Karim Ben; Bragazzi, Nicola Luigi; Nobari, Hadi; Thuany, Mabliny; Weiss, Katja; Knechtle, Beat; Irandoust, Khadijeh
Source
Sports Medicine - Open. 9(1)
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
2198-9761
Abstract
Background: Although several studies have shown that the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown has had negative impacts on mental health and eating behaviors among the general population and athletes, few studies have examined the long-term effects on elite and sub-elite athletes. The present study aimed to investigate the long-term impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health and eating behaviors in elite versus sub-elite athletes two years into the pandemic. A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted between March and April 2022, involving athletes from 14 countries, using a convenient non-probabilistic and snowball sampling method. A total of 1420 athletes (24.5 ± 7.9 years old, 569 elites, 35% women, and 851 sub-elites, 45% women) completed an online survey-based questionnaire. The questionnaire included a sociodemographic survey, information about the COVID-19 pandemic, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale—21 Items (DASS-21) for mental health assessment, and the Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants (REAP-S) for assessing eating behavior.Results: The results showed that compared to sub-elite athletes, elite athletes had lower scores on the DASS-21 (p = .001) and its subscales of depression (p = .003), anxiety (p = .007), and stress (p < .001), as well as a lower REAP-S score indicating lower diet quality (p = .013).Conclusion: In conclusion, two years into the pandemic, elite athletes were likelier to have better mental health profiles than sub-elite athletes but surprisingly had lower diet quality.
Key Points: Elite athletes had better mental health profiles compared to sub-elite athletes, with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.Elite athletes reported greater psychological support and perceived themselves as more financially secure during the pandemic than sub-elite athletes do.Elite athletes were more likely to have poor eating habits compared to sub-elite athletes.
Key Points: Elite athletes had better mental health profiles compared to sub-elite athletes, with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.Elite athletes reported greater psychological support and perceived themselves as more financially secure during the pandemic than sub-elite athletes do.Elite athletes were more likely to have poor eating habits compared to sub-elite athletes.