Athletes' psychological strain, negative emotions, and suicidal ideation: a mixed methods study

Area of Science:

• Sports Psychology
• Mental Health Research
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Suicidal ideation is an increasing concern in athletes, with unclear links to psychological strain.
• Understanding the mechanisms is crucial for developing effective interventions.
• This study investigates the mediating role of negative emotions in this relationship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the mediating effect of negative emotions on the relationship between psychological strain and suicidal ideation in athletes.
• To identify key symptoms of psychological strain and negative emotions using latent profile and network analyses.
• To provide insights for targeted psychological interventions to improve athletes' mental well-being.

Main Methods:

• Surveyed 957 athletes in China using validated questionnaires for psychological strain, negative emotions, and suicidal ideation.
• Employed latent profile analysis to categorize athletes based on psychological strain levels.
• Utilized correlation, structural equation modeling, and network analysis to explore relationships and mediation.

Main Results:

• Athletes were classified into high- and low-psychological-strain groups.
• In the high-strain group, psychological strain, negative emotions, and suicidal ideation were positively correlated.
• Negative emotions partially mediated the strain-ideation link (33% of total effect).
• "I worried about life after sport" and "Life was meaningless" emerged as core symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Negative emotions play a significant mediating role between psychological strain and suicidal ideation in athletes.
• Network analysis identified critical symptoms, informing targeted interventions.
• Findings enhance understanding of athlete mental health and guide interventions for well-being and performance.