Male Athletes and their Battle against Mental Health Outline

docx

School

Kenyatta University School of Economics *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

MISC

Subject

Psychology

Date

Nov 24, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by JudgePorcupinePerson1044

1 Male Athletes and their Battle against Mental Health Outline Student: Institution: Course: Date:

2 Introduction In recent years, the world of sports has witnessed a growing concern about the mental well-being of male athletes, shedding light on an issue that was once overshadowed by physical prowess. It is widely recognized that professional athletes may experience bodily ailments as a result of the physical demands and exertion they subject their bodies to. A prevalent societal belief posits that sports predominantly revolve on the notions of rivalry and triumph, placing significant importance on the individual or collective achievements of athletes (Knudsen, 2023). Male athletes are occasionally perceived as possessing extraordinary abilities, hence leading to a tendency to underestimate the significance of their psychological well-being. The increased willingness of male athletes to disclose their personal experiences has contributed to a greater awareness of mental health issues within the realm of competitive sports. The fields of sports psychology and sports psychiatry are seeing rapid growth as they aim to enhance understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of athletes. The presence of unfavorable life circumstances has the potential to amplify the pressure experienced by elite athletes to excel in their performance and competitive endeavors, thereby leading to heightened levels of stress within the sporting domain (Souter et al., 2018). The perpetual state of stress may endure following their cessation of athletic activities; yet, it does not stop at that point. The susceptibility of male sportsmen to depression may be attributed to the physical and psychological strains inherent in the sporting environment. When an athlete has a deterioration in their mental illness symptoms, it can have a detrimental impact on their performance, rendering them more vulnerable to subsequent manifestations of prevalent mental disorders. Male athletes who experience performance pressure may also exhibit vulnerability to overtraining syndrome, a condition that can be hard to distinguish from depression (McKnight, 2022). There is a higher

3 prevalence of eating problems or disorders in male athletes compared to males in the general population. It is apparent that male athletes also have feelings of fear, particularly in regard to their physical selves. However, they encounter difficulties when attempting to articulate these concerns. Moreover, there is a higher prevalence of drug utilization such as opioids among male athletes, with the intention of augmenting their performance in both athletic and non-athletic domains. There remains a prevailing stigma around prevalent mental disorders that impact male athletes, and although a subset of athletes opt to openly address their challenges once they conclude their careers, the majority of sportsmen prefer to remain reticent. There persists a prevailing belief that athletes who actively pursue psychological treatment may be susceptible to being perceived as lacking in strength or resilience. The purpose of this paper is to make use of a systematic review so as to synthesize the growing evidence surrounding the issue of mental health among male athletes. Men's mental health is a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of sports, impacting athletes' performance and well-being, and it's imperative to address it for the betterment of the sports community. The Prevalence of Mental Health Issues in Sports Despite the numerous health and wellness benefits associated with engaging in sports, athletes encounter specific and rigorous demands that might potentially exert a negative influence on their mental well-being (Cownley, 2022). Psychological challenges have a pervasive impact on athletes throughout many tiers of competition, encompassing professional leagues within the United States, collegiate sports, and the Olympic Games. According to Athletes for Hope, there is a cause for worry over the prevalence of psychological issues among athletes. Based on the findings of their study, it is evident that a mere 10% of student athletes actively pursue mental healthcare services. It is evident that a huge proportion of college

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

4 students, around 33%, grapple with severe mental health illnesses, with only 30% of them receiving appropriate treatment. The potential causes of this issue might be attributed to a demanding routine encompassing practice, play, and study, which presents a range of challenges such as concerns for one's reputation and limited time availability. Furthermore, statistical data reveals that a significant proportion of professional athletes, around 35%, are affected by many frequent mental disorders (Wolanin et al., 2015). Among the several mental health issues prevalent in the realm of sports, stress, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) stand out as particularly prominent. Based on statistics provided by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the prevalence rates of generalized anxiety disorder among elite athletes range from 6.6% when diagnosed by a medical professional to 14.6% when players self-report symptoms. Research has shown that there is a higher prevalence of anxiety among female athletes compared to their male counterparts. Additionally, it has been shown that athletes who sustain injuries tend to exhibit more severe symptoms of anxiety when compared to athletes who have not had any injuries. Several anxiety disorders, such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) with an incidence rate of 5.2%, social anxiety disorder (SAD) with an incidence rate of 14.7%, and panic disorder with an incidence rate of 4.5%, have been found to be associated with athletics (Herbst, 2022). In addition to exerting a negative impact on mental health and overall well-being, untreated anxiety has the potential to precipitate the onset of depression. Moreover, it is important to note that stress does not inherently have negative effects and can really be beneficial for athletes. Effective stress management might potentially lead to an elevation in adrenaline levels, so affording athletes with more energy, strength, and motivation, ultimately resulting in enhanced performance. Nevertheless, chronic stress has the potential to significantly impair an athlete's

5 physical and mental well-being. The potential consequences include performance, dietary behaviors, sleep routines, and overall physical and mental well-being may be adversely impacted. According to the World Health Organization, around 5% of the global population experiences depression. There appears to be a higher prevalence of depression in athletes compared to the general population. According to a meta-analysis examining mental health concerns among professional athletes, the incidence of depression was shown to be higher among current players (34%) in comparison to prior sportsmen (26%). The elevated prevalence observed among modern athletes can be ascribed to a range of sport-specific stresses that athletes confront throughout their professional trajectories, including diminished performance, injuries and surgical interventions, and maladaptive perfectionism. Severe depression can lead to the emergence of suicidal ideation or even the act of suicide. According to a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, it has been shown that roughly 16.7% of international athletes have reported experiencing suicidal ideation. According to a study conducted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), it has been shown that around 45% of female athletes and up to 19% of male athletes are believed to have disordered eating or an eating disorder. The prevailing stigma around mental health in sports often prevents athletes from seeking the help they need, leading to underreporting and untreated conditions. Throughout the course of human history, there has been a prevailing social disapproval and negative perception around mental illness and individuals who are impacted by its manifestations. The persistence of this stigma is evident within the realm of sports as well as in broader society, despite efforts to promote understanding of the underlying factors contributing to mental health issues and the effectiveness of current therapies. Long-standing views have been demonstrated to be equally

6 resistant to change as several other discriminatory practices that receive media attention, engage in political discourse, and provoke legal debates. Within the domain of optimal performance, mental toughness and mental wellbeing are often seen as interchangeable notions. The response of sports culture has been characterized by hesitancy when athletes actively pursue psychological assistance. Seeking help may expose an athlete to the risk of contract termination, loss of their starting position, or potential reduction in playing time. The Impact of Mental Health on Athletic Performance High levels of stress and anxiety can lead to physical symptoms like increased heart rate and muscle tension, ultimately impairing an athlete's ability to perform at their best (Raglin, 2001). It is apparent that there are several impacts of mental health on the performance of athletes. Besides having a huge impact on the performance of athletes, mental health also affects the level of concentration of athletes. For instance, a nxiety and depression can significantly disrupt an athlete's ability to maintain focus during competitions, resulting in decreased performance. Then in some cases, Sports can actually be the reason Male Athletes don’t break. Athletes have many manifestations of mental health issues, including stress, sadness, and anxiety, which exert distinct effects on their well-being. Optimal mental health and wellness are imperative for attaining optimal performance in several domains of life, including interpersonal interactions, physical pursuits, and intellectual endeavors. The prevalence of anxiety, melancholy, and stress emerges as prominent mental health concerns among student-athletes. In spite of the numerous health benefits associated with physical activity, scholarly investigations have demonstrated a correlation between excessive exercise and heightened levels of stress and burnout, along with potential adverse outcomes. The prioritization of academic and athletic

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

7 obligations above stress management and self-care strategies by athletes is not conducive to their overall well-being. The presence of stress has been found to have detrimental effects on overall welfare, impede both academic and athletic performance, and elevate the likelihood of sustaining sports- related injuries in athletes (Garver et al., 2021). The heightened risk of damage can be attributed to stress-induced attentional irregularities, increased distraction, and heightened self- consciousness, all of which have the potential to impair performance. In addition to eliciting alterations in coordination and heightened muscle tension, stress has the potential to detrimentally impact sports performance and elevate the likelihood of sustaining injuries. It is evident that athletes who encounter reduced levels of stress have a significantly decreased occurrence of illness and injury. Moreover, it is important to comprehend that, in the case of a sports-related injury, the injury itself serves as a substantial stressor. Athletes may experience a sense of isolation among their peer group, feelings of depression or hopelessness, as well as anxiety pertaining to the restoration of their performance to its pre-injury state. Sports injuries might potentially create a cyclical relationship wherein psychological distress is initiated by the occurrence of sports injuries, subsequently leading to increased stress levels that contribute to the likelihood of sustaining further sports injuries. The present study conducted a meta-analysis of two independent studies that investigated the relationship between performance errors following a competitive motor task and race times in distance runners. The findings of this meta-analysis indicate a significant negative association between trait anxiety levels and athletic performance. This finding implies that the impact of concern on performance remains consistent regardless of the kind of physical activity or the sport involved. Anxiety has been found to impact attentional processes, hence compromising executive

8 function systems such as working memory, cognitive flexibility, organization, planning, and impulse control. Additionally, it exerts influence on the process of information selection, encompassing the act of discerning and disregarding extraneous information, as well as stimuli processing, encompassing the cognitive interpretation of one's environment through the senses of touch, vision, sound, and olfaction. Both achieving scholastic excellence and excelling in competitive sports performance necessitate the possession of these qualities (Garver et al., 2021). Consequently, the absence of treatment for anxiety can significantly impair sports performance. There are several examples of athletes who face mental health challenges across the globe. Some of them include Michael Phelps. He was the most decorated athlete in Olympic history with 28 medals. He acknowledged that after the 2012 games, his longtime depression was so overwhelming that he thought about taking his life. Factors Contributing to Men’s Mental Health Issues in Sports Mental issues in men, especially those pursuing sports and athletes do not just happen. There are some factors that lead to the prevalence of mental health issues among male athletes. Some of these contributing factors include societal pressure on male athletes, the image of a “tough guy” in sports, and the excess pressure, especially from the fans, coaches, and the media. It is clear that Society's expectations of male athletes to display strength and resilience can create additional stressors, making it difficult for them to admit vulnerability (Küttel & Larsen, 2020). In society, male athletes are expected to always be strong and consistently produce the best results. This makes them to be stressed and strain to give their best always even when the circumstances are not favorable. As a result, they end up being stressed by these expectations and how they will meet them.

9 Most male athletes usually aim to maintain the “tough and resilient guy” image in sports. The culture of sports often promotes a "tough guy" image, which discourages athletes from addressing their mental health concerns. This image is always a huge embargo for the athletes to talk about what they are going through. A lot of male athletes usually opt to remain silent about their mental health rather than talking about it (Küttel & Larsen, 2020). This is because they have a perception that people will start seeing them as weak guys and not as the usual tough guys. Lastly, male athletes usually face the challenge of pressure from the fans, their coaches, and the media. The relentless pressure from coaches, fans, and media can exacerbate mental health issues, as athletes feel the need to meet unrealistic expectations (Küttel & Larsen, 2020). This is because for male athletes to remain at the top and useful in their sporting careers, they need not show any signs of weakness. This implies that they will secretly suffer the mental illness without revealing it to anyone. Strategies and Solutions for Addressing Men's Mental Health in Sports There are several ways through which mental health in male athletes can be solved. Some of them include but are not limited to creating education and awareness programs, ensuring that mental health discussions are not stigmatized, ensuring that these athletes have access to mental health resources, and lastly ensuring that the testimonials from the athletes who have sought mental health help have been shared (Wynters et al., 2021). Implementing mental health education and awareness programs within sports organizations can help athletes and staff understand the importance of mental well-being. These programs will significantly help male athletes to understand that having mental health issues is not a crime or a mistake. In addition to this, the programs and awareness will help the athletes understand how to best deal with mental health issues even at a personal level.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

10 Encouraging open dialogue about mental health and providing safe spaces for athletes to express their concerns without fear of judgment can reduce stigma (Horton, 2021). The major reason why the issue of mental health among male athletes is widespread is due to stigmatization. Most lame athletes usually feel too shy to express their issues because they think that they will be isolated not only by society but even by the teams that they are representing. This makes them keep their issues to themselves. Therefore, eliminating stigmatization in the sporting sector will significantly encourage athletes to open up about their issues. As a result, they will get the appropriate help for their issues. Ensuring that athletes have easy access to mental health professionals and resources can be instrumental in addressing their issues. In addition to this, allowing athletes who sought mental health help to share their success stories can significantly inspire other athletes to do the same.

11 References Cohut Ph.D., M. (2022, October 10). Men’s mental health: What affects it and how to improve support . Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/mens-mental- health-man-up-is-not-the-answer Cooks-Campbell, A. (2022, February 2). Mental health in athletes: Moving beyond the stigma . BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/mental-health-in-athletes Cownley, S. (2022, June 29). Sports Play a Crucial Role in Men’s Mental Health . Bel Marra Health. https://www.belmarrahealth.com/sports-plays-a-crucial-role-in-mens-mental- health/ Garver, M. J., Gordon, A. M., Philipp, N. M., Huml, M. R., & Wakeman, A. J. (2021). Change- event steals “athlete” from “college athlete”: perceived impact and depression, anxiety, and stress. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare , 1873-1882. Herbst, D. (2022, June 9). Male depression A& anxiety in athletes: Overcoming the taboo - psycom . Psycom. https://www.psycom.net/depression/depression-in-men/depression-in- male-athletes Horton, J. (2021, August 9). Athletes and mental health: Breaking the stigma . Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/mental-health-in-athletes/ Knudsen, M. (2023, October 24). Let’s talk about mental health in male athletes . The InsideGuide. https://blog.insidetracker.com/lets-talk-about-mental-health-in-male-athletes

12 Küttel, A., & Larsen, C. H. (2020). Risk and protective factors for mental health in elite athletes: A scoping review. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology , 13 (1), 231- 265. McKnight, J. (2022, January 16). Mental health in sports: Through the eyes of male athletes . The Fulcrum. https://thefulcrum.ca/sports/mental-health-in-sports-through-the-eyes-of-male- athletes/ Raglin, J. S. (2001). Psychological factors in sport performance: the mental health model revisited. Sports medicine , 31 , 875-890. Souter, G., Lewis, R., & Serrant, L. (2018, December 19). Men, Mental Health and Elite Sport: A Narrative Review - Sports Medicine - Open . SpringerOpen. https://sportsmedicine- open.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40798-018-0175-7 Vickers, E. (2019, September 11). Life after sport: Depression in the retired athlete . BelievePerform. https://believeperform.com/life-after-sport-depression-in-retired- athletes/ Wolanin, A., Gross, M., & Hong, E. (2015). Depression in athletes: prevalence and risk factors. Current sports medicine reports , 14 (1), 56-60. Wynters, R., Liddle, S. K., Swann, C., Schweickle, M. J., & Vella, S. A. (2021). Qualitative evaluation of a sports-based mental health literacy program for adolescent males. Psychology of Sport and Exercise , 56 , 101989.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Male Athletes and their Battle against Mental Health Outline

Related Documents