Impact of Injury Frequency and Severity on Mental Health Indicators in Triathletes: A Repeated-Measures Study

The complexity of triathlon goes beyond the multidisciplinary nature of the sport and extends to the physical and mental health of the athlete. One of the most relevant aspects is injuries, which, in addition to the physical impact, can affect mental health indicators.

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between injuries sustained by triathletes and mental health indicators.

Sixty-three subjects participated, of whom 48 suffered one or two injuries. The average age was 37.83 years, and the sample consisted of 34 men (39.56 years) and 29 women (32.21 years). The instruments used were an online questionnaire to collect the number of injuries, type, and severity; the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21); and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). A longitudinal study was conducted, lasting six months, where the questionnaires were administered monthly.

The greater the number of injuries, the higher the scores in the coefficients of variation of anger and vigor, and the highest peak is found in the variable stress, followed by anxiety and depression.

Triathletes who suffer a greater number of injuries have higher scores in stress and depression, and their level of vigor and anger is increased, so they present a more negative and reactive stress and mood profile.