Griffin Steffan, Syed Sheriff Rebecca, Dane Kathryn, Myall Kearnan, Simpson Kaitlin, Lewis Heather, Yeomans Caithriona, Patricios Jon, Kemp Simon, Khan Karim, Palmer Debbie, Fawkner Samantha, Kelly Paul
University of Edinburgh Physical Activity for Health Research Centre, Edinburgh, UK.
Medical Services, Rugby Football Union, Twickenham, UK.
BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2024 Dec 7;10(4):e002164. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002164. eCollection 2024.
Mental health and well-being is a relatively under-researched area in rugby, especially outside the elite men's game. Evidence suggests that physical activity and sports benefit mental health and well-being, and rugby provides health-enhancing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
This cross-sectional study used an online approach and engaged national rugby governing bodies to understand adult rugby players' mental health and well-being and increase the diversity of the current evidence base.
500 rugby players completed an online survey. 44% of participants identified as female, and 55% as male. The UK (67%), Ireland (15%) and South Africa (12%) were the countries with the highest representation. 71% of participants were amateur players, with elite players making up 20% of the population. 87% of players participated in contact forms of the game, with 9% predominantly playing non-contact rugby. Over 50% of participants reported that rugby impacted 'extremely' positively on both their mental health and well-being. Based on the Kessler psychological distress scale (K10), 57.8% of all respondents belonged to the 'psychologically well' group. Males were more likely to belong to this group than females (p=0.01). Non-contact and amateur players had lower scores of psychological distress than contact and professional players (p=0.001 and p=0.006), respectively. Non-contact players had higher well-being (Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale) scores than contact players (p<0.001).
This study provides new insights into the mental health and well-being of a diverse group of rugby players.
心理健康与幸福感在橄榄球运动领域是一个研究相对较少的领域，尤其是在精英男子比赛之外。有证据表明，体育活动和运动有益于心理健康与幸福感，而橄榄球能提供增进健康的中等到剧烈强度的体育活动。
这项横断面研究采用在线方式并与国家橄榄球管理机构合作，以了解成年橄榄球运动员的心理健康与幸福感，并增加现有证据基础的多样性。
500名橄榄球运动员完成了一项在线调查。44%的参与者为女性，55%为男性。英国（67%）、爱尔兰（15%）和南非（12%）的参与者占比最高。71%的参与者为业余球员，精英球员占总人数的20%。87%的球员参与了有身体接触形式的比赛，9%的球员主要进行无身体接触的橄榄球运动。超过50%的参与者表示，橄榄球对他们的心理健康和幸福感都产生了“极其”积极的影响。根据凯斯勒心理困扰量表（K10），所有受访者中有57.8%属于“心理状况良好”组。男性比女性更有可能属于该组（p = 0.01）。无身体接触和业余球员的心理困扰得分分别低于有身体接触和职业球员（p = 0.001和p = 0.006）。无身体接触球员的幸福感（简短版沃里克 - 爱丁堡心理健康量表）得分高于有身体接触球员（p < 0.001）。
本研究为不同群体的橄榄球运动员的心理健康与幸福感提供了新的见解。
