Mental Health in Elite Coaches

A recent article in Sports Health was published focusing on Mental Health in Elite Coaches. We know Coaches play an essential role in promoting mental health in elite sports. Yet, they themselves are exposed to risks affecting their mental health, and their fears and worries are often overlooked. 

 

The objective of the study was to create a compilation of the literature on:

(1) elite coaches’ mental health

(2) how coaches’ mental health influences elite athletes’ mental health

 

Building on this, recommendations for improving coaches’ psychological well-being should be elaborated upon and discussed.

 

The authors selected studies reporting elite coaches’ mental health symptoms and disorders and the influence of elite coaches’ mental health on elite athletes’ mental health were included in a scoping review format.

 

The authors found very little research has been done on elite coaches’ mental health disorders. They did find, however, that coaches also express symptoms of burnout, anxiety, and depression. The influence of coaches’ mental health on their athletes is underinvestigated, with research focused mainly on the influence of coaches’ stress.

 

The authors recomended that elite coaches receive more support, including sports psychiatric care and education on the importance of mental health. This could improve the mental health of both coaches and athletes, and positively affect athlete performance.