Mental Health in Croatian Competing Adolescent Athletes: Insights from the SMHAT-1 Questionnaire
This study examines the prevalence of mental health problems among Croatian adolescent competing athletes, with a focus on gender differences. Mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and attention deficiency hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are particularly relevant in this p...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5318/6/1/29 |
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| author | Katarina Sore Frane Franic Luka Androja Ivana Batarelo Kokic Darko Marcinko Stipe Drmic Valentin Zdravko Markser Tomislav Franic |
| author_facet | Katarina Sore Frane Franic Luka Androja Ivana Batarelo Kokic Darko Marcinko Stipe Drmic Valentin Zdravko Markser Tomislav Franic |
| author_sort | Katarina Sore |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examines the prevalence of mental health problems among Croatian adolescent competing athletes, with a focus on gender differences. Mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and attention deficiency hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are particularly relevant in this population due to the combined and simultaneous challenges of competitive sport and adolescence. Understanding gender-specific patterns is crucial for targeted interventions. A cross-sectional study involved 674 Croatian athletes (418 men, 256 women) aged 16–24 years from 43 sports. Data were collected using the Sports Mental Health Assessment Tool (SMHAT-1), which assessed 12 mental health concerns. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, effect size analysis with Cramér’s V, and power analysis were performed. The results showed significant gender-specific differences. Female athletes reported higher rates of anxiety (22.7% vs. 3.8%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), depression (25.4% vs. 5.3%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), alcohol use (27.0% vs. 7.7%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), ADHD (18.8% vs. 2.4%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and post-traumatic stress disorder (8.2% vs. 1.2%, <i>p</i> < 0.001) compared to males. Gender-specific mental health interventions are crucial for improving sport performance and injury prevention. Further research should refine strategies to address vulnerabilities associated with gender and competitive sport environments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-69a9063ba4474da29e468d30bf8b4f56 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-5318 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psychiatry International |
| spelling | doaj-art-69a9063ba4474da29e468d30bf8b4f562025-08-20T03:44:03ZengMDPI AGPsychiatry International2673-53182025-03-01612910.3390/psychiatryint6010029Mental Health in Croatian Competing Adolescent Athletes: Insights from the SMHAT-1 QuestionnaireKatarina Sore0Frane Franic1Luka Androja2Ivana Batarelo Kokic3Darko Marcinko4Stipe Drmic5Valentin Zdravko Markser6Tomislav Franic7School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, CroatiaSchool of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaSchool of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, CroatiaFaculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Split, 21000 Split, CroatiaSchool of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Psychiatry, Dubrava University Hospital, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaGerman Society for Sport Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 50668 Cologne, GermanySchool of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, CroatiaThis study examines the prevalence of mental health problems among Croatian adolescent competing athletes, with a focus on gender differences. Mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and attention deficiency hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are particularly relevant in this population due to the combined and simultaneous challenges of competitive sport and adolescence. Understanding gender-specific patterns is crucial for targeted interventions. A cross-sectional study involved 674 Croatian athletes (418 men, 256 women) aged 16–24 years from 43 sports. Data were collected using the Sports Mental Health Assessment Tool (SMHAT-1), which assessed 12 mental health concerns. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, effect size analysis with Cramér’s V, and power analysis were performed. The results showed significant gender-specific differences. Female athletes reported higher rates of anxiety (22.7% vs. 3.8%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), depression (25.4% vs. 5.3%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), alcohol use (27.0% vs. 7.7%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), ADHD (18.8% vs. 2.4%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and post-traumatic stress disorder (8.2% vs. 1.2%, <i>p</i> < 0.001) compared to males. Gender-specific mental health interventions are crucial for improving sport performance and injury prevention. Further research should refine strategies to address vulnerabilities associated with gender and competitive sport environments.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5318/6/1/29mental healthadolescentgender differencesathletesSMHAT-1depression |
| spellingShingle | Katarina Sore Frane Franic Luka Androja Ivana Batarelo Kokic Darko Marcinko Stipe Drmic Valentin Zdravko Markser Tomislav Franic Mental Health in Croatian Competing Adolescent Athletes: Insights from the SMHAT-1 Questionnaire Psychiatry International mental health adolescent gender differences athletes SMHAT-1 depression |
| title | Mental Health in Croatian Competing Adolescent Athletes: Insights from the SMHAT-1 Questionnaire |
| title_full | Mental Health in Croatian Competing Adolescent Athletes: Insights from the SMHAT-1 Questionnaire |
| title_fullStr | Mental Health in Croatian Competing Adolescent Athletes: Insights from the SMHAT-1 Questionnaire |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental Health in Croatian Competing Adolescent Athletes: Insights from the SMHAT-1 Questionnaire |
| title_short | Mental Health in Croatian Competing Adolescent Athletes: Insights from the SMHAT-1 Questionnaire |
| title_sort | mental health in croatian competing adolescent athletes insights from the smhat 1 questionnaire |
| topic | mental health adolescent gender differences athletes SMHAT-1 depression |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5318/6/1/29 |
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