Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland.
Centre for Injury Prevention and Performance, Athletic Therapy and Training, School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
Phys Sportsmed. 2021 May;49(2):207-213. doi: 10.1080/00913847.2020.1808435. Epub 2020 Oct 6.
Jockeys compete in a sport, horseracing, renowned for its physical and psychological demands. Previous research has identified that common mental disorders (CMDs) may be prevalent among this unique population of athletes. The aim of the present study was to further explore the prevalence of CMDs among jockeys and to test for associations with potential risk factors.
An anonymous survey was distributed to professional jockey online. Self-report screening tools for four CMDs (psychological distress, depression, generalized anxiety, and adverse alcohol use) were included alongside predictor variables from questionnaires assessing for burnout, career satisfaction, social support, and the contemplation of retirement. Binary logistic regression was used to explore associations between CMDs (present versus not present) and risk factors. Eighty-four professional jockeys completed the questionnaire (response rate = 52%).
In total, 79% of jockeys met the threshold for at least one CMD. Prevalence (%) of CMD varied as follows: adverse alcohol (61%), depression (35%), generalized anxiety (27%), and psychological distress (19%). Burnout, career (dis)satisfaction, lower levels of social support, and the contemplation of retirement increased the odds of meeting the criteria for CMDs.
The findings indicate that jockeys report CMD symptoms at comparable rates to athletes in other sports. The study was the first to highlight potential risk factors as predictors of CMDs among jockeys, including burnout, career satisfaction, and the current contemplation of retirement. Screening tools for the risk factors demonstrated may, therefore, provide useful in the early identification of CMDs among jockeys. The development of jockey-specific assessment tools, education programmes, and interventions may help better understand and support the mental health of jockeys.
骑手在赛马运动中竞争，该运动以其身体和心理需求而闻名。先前的研究已经确定，常见的精神障碍（CMD）可能在这群独特的运动员中普遍存在。本研究的目的是进一步探讨骑手常见精神障碍的流行情况，并检验与潜在危险因素的关联。
一项匿名调查通过网络分发给职业骑师。自我报告的四种 CMD（心理困扰、抑郁、广泛性焦虑和不良饮酒）筛查工具与评估倦怠、职业满意度、社会支持和退休考虑的问卷预测变量一起包括在内。二元逻辑回归用于探索 CMD（存在或不存在）与危险因素之间的关联。84 名职业骑师完成了问卷（应答率为 52%）。
共有 79%的骑手至少有一种 CMD 符合标准。CMD 的患病率（%）如下：不良饮酒（61%）、抑郁（35%）、广泛性焦虑（27%）和心理困扰（19%）。倦怠、职业（不）满意、较低的社会支持水平以及对退休的思考都会增加符合 CMD 标准的几率。
研究结果表明，与其他运动项目的运动员相比，骑手报告 CMD 症状的比例相当。这项研究首次强调了潜在的危险因素，如倦怠、职业满意度和当前对退休的考虑，是骑手 CMD 的预测因素。风险因素筛查工具的研究可能有助于早期发现骑手的 CMD。制定针对骑手的评估工具、教育计划和干预措施可能有助于更好地理解和支持骑手的心理健康。
