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274 Risk factors associated with anxiety and depression in professional cricketers
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  1. Sharief Hendricks1,2,
  2. Nur Amino1,
  3. Ruan Schlebusch3,
  4. JP Van Wyk3,
  5. Stephen Mellalieu4,
  6. Vincent Gouttebarge1,5,6
  1. 1Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa
  2. 2Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK, Leeds, UK
  3. 3South African Cricketers’ Association, Cape Town, South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa
  4. 4Cardiff School of Sport and Heath Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK, Cardiff, UK
  5. 5Amsterdam UMC, Univ of Amsterdam, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  6. 6Amsterdam Collaboration on Health and Safety in Sports (ACHSS), AMC/VUmc IOC Research Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

Background In elite sport, mental health has become a topic of concern as athletes frequently appear to experience symptoms of anxiety/depression. Cricket is particularly demanding, given the globalisation and different formats of the game. To reduce anxiety/depression in professional cricketers, potential risk factors need to be identified.

Objectives Firstly, to determine the prevalence of anxiety/depression in South African professional cricketers. Secondly, determine whether factors such as education, family life, or career-related factors are associated with anxiety/depression.

Design A cross-sectional survey design using the General Health Questionnaire – a robust and reliable self-report measure for risk of anxiety/depression.

Participants All Professional South African Cricketers (n=177).

Assessment of Risk Factors Players’ career (e.g. main role in the team, level of cricket), family (e.g. marital status, whether they had children) and education (e.g. highest level of education, whether they were currently studying)

Main Outcome Measurements General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ) Score (ranging from 0–12). Anxiety/Depression prevalence (based on GHQ). Relative Risk Ratios (RR) for anxiety/depression based playing career, family and education.

Results The prevalence of anxiety/depression was 58%. The mean GHQ score for the sample was 3.6 (95% CI: 3.2–4.0). The likelihood of developing anxiety/depression increased when players were playing a higher level (RR: 7.3; 95% CI: 2.0–26.3; p < 0.01), contracted for more than 2 years (RR: 5.0; 95% CI: 1.2–21.3; p < 0.05) or if they played their last offseason overseas (RR: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.3–9.6; p < 0.05). The likelihood of developing anxiety/depression decreased when players made productive use of their spare time in the offseason (RR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1–0.9; p < 0.05) and were contracted for 2 years (RR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1–1.0; p < 0.05).

Conclusions The prevalence of symptoms of anxiety/depression in this cohort was higher than previously reported for elite athletes. Potential risk factors have been identified that can be used to design and develop strategies to reduce anxiety/depression in professional cricketers.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2021-IOC.253

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