the Impact of Injury on Depression in Athletes: A Systematic Review

Abstract

There are nearly 500,00 collegiate and professional athletes in the United States, and studies have shown how physical and mental demands of practice and competition (e.g., overtraining, exhaustion, injury) in addition to other external elements (e.g., trauma, retirement) adversely impact mental health. Injuries create a variety of emotional responses some of which can negatively affect athlete well-being. The focus of this systematic review was to build connections between mental health and sport and address two primary research questions:

1. In what ways do injuries impact athlete depression?

2. How is depression experienced among athletes as a result of an injury?

A mixed-methods methodological approach was utilized and results of included studies were synthesized narratively. This systematic review helped to identify gaps in the literature that may guide future research.