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Leprince C, Maurin M, Carling C. Consideration of Mental Health and Well-Being in High-Level Sport: When Will a Coach-Centred Approach Be Introduced? Sports Med 2024:10.1007/s40279-024-02044-x. [PMID: 38811435 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-024-02044-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Coverage of problems relating to mental health and well-being is gaining ground in the sports sector today, both in the media and in the scientific literature. Despite exposure to numerous stressors and suffering from poor mental health, coaches have in general been largely overlooked in the scientific literature. Previous studies have mainly focused upon athlete populations. The absence of research means that there are real shortcomings in both understanding the mechanisms involved in the deterioration of coaches' mental health and well-being and in the lack of specific support systems available. This paper first describes findings from the recent, albeit quite scarce, research investigating mental health and well-being in coaches. It then proposes a number of avenues for research and support protocols, both of which are currently ongoing at the French Football Federation Research Centre. The aim is to help support these key participants in the sports sector who arguably have not been given sufficient consideration until now.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloé Leprince
- French Football Federation Research Centre, Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, France
- Sport, Expertise and Performance Laboratory (EA 7370), INSEP, Paris, France
| | - Mathéo Maurin
- French Football Federation Research Centre, Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, France
- Laboratory on Vulnerabilities and Innovation in Sport (L-VIS), University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Christopher Carling
- French Football Federation Research Centre, Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, France.
- Sport, Expertise and Performance Laboratory (EA 7370), INSEP, Paris, France.
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Walton CC, Purcell R, Pilkington V, Hall K, Kenttä G, Vella S, Rice SM. Psychological Safety for Mental Health in Elite Sport: A Theoretically Informed Model. Sports Med 2024; 54:557-564. [PMID: 37737542 PMCID: PMC10978613 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-023-01912-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Elite sports contexts are highly pressurised and frequently enforce a win-at-all-costs approach. This narrow focus on performance outcomes can potentially contribute in negative ways to the mental health of those within these environments. In this Current Opinion paper, we propose a model that outlines how key elements contributing to psychologically safe or unsafe environments may contribute to better or worse mental health outcomes, respectively. In an environment in which individuals feel safe to show their authentic selves rather than 'wear a mask', different experiences of mental health are likely to be normalised, help-seeking behaviour increased, and thus, mental health outcomes enhanced. We outline how sports teams and organisations can contribute to this through the creation of appropriate policies and procedures, in addition to leaders modelling and reinforcing positive cultural norms. It is intended that the theoretical model can inform stakeholders in elite sport as well as future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney C Walton
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
- Elite Sports and Mental Health, Orygen, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Rosemary Purcell
- Elite Sports and Mental Health, Orygen, Melbourne, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Vita Pilkington
- Elite Sports and Mental Health, Orygen, Melbourne, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kate Hall
- Australian Football League, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Göran Kenttä
- The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden
- School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Stewart Vella
- Global Alliance for Mental Health and Sport, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Simon M Rice
- Elite Sports and Mental Health, Orygen, Melbourne, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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Frost J, Walton CC, Purcell R, Fisher K, Gwyther K, Kocherginsky M, Rice SM. The Mental Health of Elite-Level Coaches: A Systematic Scoping Review. SPORTS MEDICINE - OPEN 2024; 10:16. [PMID: 38341831 PMCID: PMC10859359 DOI: 10.1186/s40798-023-00655-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elite-level coaches are exposed to multiple performance, organisational and personal stressors which may contribute to reduced mental health and wellbeing. This systematic scoping review examined the current body of evidence to explore what is known about the mental health of elite-level coaches (i.e. wellbeing and mental ill-health), the risk and protective factors that influence coach mental health, and the relationship between mental health and coaching effectiveness. METHODS The review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. A systematic search was undertaken and updated in September 2022 using six electronic databases. RESULTS 12,376 studies were identified and screened, with 42 studies satisfying the inclusion criteria. Despite the paucity of high-quality research, findings indicated that 40% of the included studies examined themes connected to wellbeing, with 76% assessing the nature or prevalence of mental ill-health in elite-level coaches. Among studies exploring mental ill-health, coach burnout was the primary focus, while scant research examined symptoms associated with clinical disorders (e.g. anxiety and depression). Overall, psychological outcomes for elite-level coaches were shaped by risk and protective factors operating at the individual, interpersonal, organisational and societal level. Preliminary evidence was also found to suggest that poor mental health may contribute to reduced coaching effectiveness. It is proposed that coaching effectiveness could therefore be employed as a 'hook' to engage elite-level coaches in greater consideration of their mental health needs. CONCLUSION Alongside the development of methodologically robust research, there is a need to examine dynamic individual (e.g. psychological skills), interpersonal (e.g. strong social supports) and organisational (e.g. workload) factors that aim to preserve the mental health and optimise the efficacy of elite-level coaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Frost
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
- Elite Sports and Mental Health, Orygen, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Courtney C Walton
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Elite Sports and Mental Health, Orygen, Melbourne, Australia
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Rosemary Purcell
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Elite Sports and Mental Health, Orygen, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Krista Fisher
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Elite Sports and Mental Health, Orygen, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kate Gwyther
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Elite Sports and Mental Health, Orygen, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Michael Kocherginsky
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Elite Sports and Mental Health, Orygen, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Simon M Rice
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Elite Sports and Mental Health, Orygen, Melbourne, Australia
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Abstract
There is growing understanding of the extent of mental health problems, and related mental health needs, among elite athletes. However, far less attention has been paid to mental health among elite coaches and high-performance support staff, the latter including strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapists, sport psychologists, and other allied health workers in the daily training environment (high-performance support staff are referred to collectively as "entourage" throughout this article). The scarcity of research examining mental health among elite coaches and entourage warrants urgent attention, particularly given these individuals share similar performance demands and role-related stressors as elite athletes. This article reviews the available literature on this topic, including (1) an empirical study conducted by the authors with a sample of coaches and entourage from Australia's national high-performance sport system and (2) a case example to illustrate sport-specific and general risk factors that are likely to impact mental health in elite sporting environments. Avenues for supporting mental health among coaches and entourage are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary Purcell
- The Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Elite Sports and Mental Health, Orygen, 35 Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
| | - Joshua Frost
- The Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Elite Sports and Mental Health, Orygen, 35 Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Vita Pilkington
- The Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Elite Sports and Mental Health, Orygen, 35 Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
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Brand JC, Rossi MJ. Diversity in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Starts With Individual Kindness, Grace, and Compassion. Arthroscopy 2023; 39:2115-2116. [PMID: 37716785 DOI: 10.1016/j.arthro.2023.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
The definition of diversity remains ill-defined, and there is little consensus as to the solutions to increase diversity. Advancements in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) might first start with kindness, grace, and compassion as an individual response; these attributes are critical ingredients as we embark to increase DEI in orthopaedic surgery, sports medicine, and rehabilitation and in the care for our patients. Given the needed focus and debate on diversity and equity issues, an Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation Special Issue, "Diversity in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation" can function as a starting point for discourse and a seed for future growth. The authors for the Diversity Special Issue have delivered "pearls" that can be directly incorporated into our practices and understanding of DEI.
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