Prevalence and Factors Associated with Mental Health Complaints in Japanese Collegiate Athletes

Abstract

Investigations into mental health epidemiology in various cultural contexts were one of the main recommendations by the recent consensus statement on mental health in athletes, but the evidence in different sporting populations is rising slowly. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of mental health complaints in Japanese collegiate athletes. The online survey was sent to the Japanese collegiate athletes associated with UNIVAS asking about the mental health complaints experienced during their sporting careers. Out of 10,999 athletes, 269 (2.4%) reported at least one complaint. Mental health complaints were more prevalent in female (3.6%) than male (1.5%) athletes. Skill sports had the highest prevalence (4.1%) of mental health complaints, and power sports had the lowest prevalence (1.5%) of mental health complaints. This study found a very low prevalence of self-reported mental health complaints in Japanese collegiate athletes. Preventive efforts should focus on monitoring early symptoms (rather than diagnoses), especially in skill sports and female athletes. Anxiety (38%) and depression (35%) were the most reported complaints and should be targeted first.