We need a better understanding of how COVID-19 has affected our athletes

Self-reported mental health measures among incoming collegiate student-athletes who had SARS-COVID-19

Anderson MN, Gallo CA, Passalugo SW, Nimeh JM, Buckley TA. J Athl train. 2023 [published online ahead of print, 2023 May 26]10.4085/1062-6050-0554.22.

Full text freely available

Take home message

Athletes with a history of COVID-19 infection may report slightly worse depression and anxiety scores than peers without a history of COVID-19.

Background

More than 75% of people have cognitive problems after a COVID-19 infection, and about one in three experience persistent neuropsychological effects such as depression and anxiety. It remains unclear whether athletes with a history of COVID-19 infection experience more depression or anxiety than athletes without a history of COVID-19.

Study objectives

The authors compared patient-reported anxiety and depression between incoming collegiate athletes with or without a history of COVID-19.

Methods

Participants were freshmen or transfer student-athletes in a more comprehensive concussion study that answered a question about their history of COVID-19 and any mental health measures. Participants reported on their mental health using the Satisfaction with Life Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and State-trait Anxiety Inventory.

Results

The authors examined 79 athletes with a history of COVID-19 and 99 without a history of COVID-19. Overall, those with a history of COVID-19 had worse depression and anxiety scores, especially among women. However, these differences were small – often less than a one-point difference. When the authors examined how many student-athletes met clinical cutoffs for depression or anxiety, almost everyone in each group (>94%) did not meet clinical cutoffs for depression or anxiety, regardless of their history of COVID-19.

Viewpoints

Patients with a history of COVID-19 may have worse mental health outcomes than patients without a history of COVID-19. However, because many of the patients scored within normal limits, the clinical applicability of the difference may be questionable. It would have been interesting to know if the time since having COVID-19 or its severity influenced mental health outcomes among student-athletes. This type of analysis would require more student-athletes.

Clinical implications

The authors suggested that clinicians should be aware that student-athletes with a history of COVID-19 could be at greater risk for mental health problems if another event (e.g., concussion, joint injury) occurs.

Questions for discussion

Why do you think there was such a negligible effect on athletes’ mental health after COVID-19 infection? Do you think we should be concerned about the mental health effects in athletes after COVID-19 infection?

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Written by Mitchell Barnhart
Reviewed by Jeffrey Driban