Depressive symptoms among male professional soccer players in Japan

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to (Kuettel & Larsen, 2020) examine depressive symptoms among male professional soccer players in Japan, and (Buck et al., 2018) explore the association of these symptoms with current injuries, history of severe injuries, general anxiety, and adverse life events. Design: Cross-sectional online survey. Setting: The survey was conducted during the Japanese Professional Football preseason between February and April 2020 in Japan. Participants: Sixty-four professional athletes from four teams participated in the survey. The mean age was 26 years (SD 4.5). Main outcome measures: The outcome measures included the Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and select items from the Social Athletic Readjustment Rating Scale. Results: Depressive symptoms were reported among 9.4% of participants. Two players (3.1%) were found to have generalized anxiety as well as depressive symptoms. Other risk factors were unrelated to depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The occurrence of depressive symptoms among participating professional soccer players from four teams in Japan was lower than the previously reported prevalence estimates among Western players but higher than the general population in Japan of the same age group. The findings suggest clinicians should assess the mental health of elite athletes, and work to mitigate stigma around mental health.