Disparities in the Prevalence and Severity of Sleep and Mental Health Disorders among Retired Elite Athletes Using a Gender-Specific Approach

Abstract

Aim of the Study: For the past two and a half decades, mental health disorders among retired athletes (particularly elite) have gradually been rising while eventually reaching to a worrisome level. Hence, the current study aimed to examine gender-based differences in the prevalence and severity of sleep disorders and mental health conditions among retired elite athletes.

Methodology: This particular study used the cross-sectional approach. The participants included in the final sample were 268 in number, among which 119 were women and 149 were men aged between 29 to 63 years (M = 43.2, SD = 7.39). PSQI, Gad and CES-Depression Scale-10 were utilized to gather data.

Findings: The results proposed that with respect to the prevalence of depression, male retired elite athletes reported slightly greater prevalence of depression as compared to female counterparts. Additionally, with respect to anxiety levels, female elite retired athletes demonstrated higher prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety as compared to male elite retired athletes. Sleep disorders, on the other hand, also presented almost similar results with females demonstrating slightly higher prevalence of sleep disorders as compared to male elite retired counterparts. Lastly, although the t-test scores remained non-significant with respect to gender related disparities in depression scores. However, anxiety and sleep disorders did indicate substantial gender differences with female retired elite athletes demonstrating higher levels of both disorders.

Conclusion: These findings reinforce the need for growing body of international literature to design and propose specialized strategies to counter post-retirement mental health disorders among retired elite athletes.