Mental Health in First- and Second-Division Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Sports Psychology

Background:

• Extensive research highlights sport's positive impact on mental health.
• Limited studies focus on mental health outcomes in elite athletes.
• This study addresses the gap by examining professional soccer players.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the mental health status of Villarreal Soccer Club's first (FD) and second division (SD) players.
• To investigate potential mediating effects of sex and professional category on player mental health.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study design.
• Sample included 54 professional soccer players from Villarreal Soccer Club.
• Utilized MINI, HARS, HDRS, BARRAT-11, and SCSRQ questionnaires for data collection.

Main Results:

• A significant proportion of players (24.1%) reported prior mental health treatment.
• Observed differences in impulsivity and depression scores between FD and SD players.
• Found variations in somatic anxiety scores between female and male SD players.

Conclusions:

• Villarreal players demonstrated favorable mental health compared to the general population.
• Clinical scale scores and reported histories suggest resilience in this athlete cohort.
• Further research can explore specific interventions for athlete mental well-being.