The mental health and psychological wellbeing of South African athletes and coaches during the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons learned from their health experience

Abstract

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, athletes’ and coaches’ participation in sport was restricted severely.

Objectives: This study explore the mental health and wellbeing of athletes and coaches in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic at the end of adjusted level 3 lockdown in February 2021. At the time, participants were restricted from engaging in sports activities for a year.

Methods:  A convenience sample of 135 athletes (mean age= 36.2±16.8) and 110 coaches (mean age=44.0±14.0) from 37 sporting codes participated in the study. They were invited via their federations to complete the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale and Mental Health Continuum – Short Form. Descriptive results, correlations and group differences were determined. A direct logistic regression was done to predict psychological distress for athletes and coaches.

Results: Psychological distress was observed for athletes (46%) and coaches (47%), while 45% of athletes and 46% of coaches were flourishing under conditions of the pandemic. The social wellbeing of more athletes’ (25%) and coaches’ (28%) was disrupted than their emotional and psychological wellbeing during lockdown. The mental wellbeing of athletes (OR=0.86; CI 95%=0.81-0.91: p=0.0001) and coaches (OR=0.93; CI 95%=0.89-0.97: p=0.0001) seemed to mitigate their psychological distress, while female athletes (OR=4.97; CI 95%=1.62-15.18: p=0.005) were almost five times more likely to experience psychological distress than male athletes.

Conclusion: Almost half of the participating athletes and coaches showed high psychological distress, while high mental wellbeing seemed to protect athletes and coaches from negative mental health outcomes during the pandemic. Female athletes and coaches were identified as high-risk groups for mental health challenges during lockdown conditions.