This subtopic will focus on possible external factors that may lead to a decrease in mental health status. These main two external triggers being forceful participation and effects from COVID-19. A study done by the NCAA-DOD Consortium, the results found that first-year collegiate athletes with a history of sports demonstrate lower cognitive performance.(Chou et al 2022) While not focused on psychological distress, this study may lead me to think that if one’s cognitive ability goes down, then their mental state will begin to follow. Mental health is not always depression or anxiety, it could also be cognitive performance. Another study done on forceful participation can be seen in a study done by N.J. Bauman. It discusses individual athletes who are expected to be successful by a parent, relatives, sport organizations and people within those organizations; Financial gain or loss for all involved; A multitude of media outlets that glorify those who succeed and are critical of those who fail. (Bauman: 2016) This source gives me a great peer-reviewed insight into the different factors that cause mental health issues in athletes. The other article focuses on the effects of COVID-19 on Athletes mental health. The study found that due to COVID-19, athletes had feelings of loneliness, and sleep disorders due to excessive use of social media during the global pandemic. Results found that during quarantine, young athletes prefer to displace bad thoughts and distract from training for spending too much time on social media applications. It was stated that young athletes experience negative emotions due to the situation with the coronavirus. (Popových et al 2021)
