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Potentially Prolonged Psychological Distress from Postponed Olympic and Paralympic Games during COVID-19—Career Uncertainty in Elite Athletes

Author

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  • Anders Håkansson

    (Depterment of Clinical Sciences Lund, Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, S-22100 Lund, Sweden
    Region Skåne, Malmö Addiction Center, Clinical Sports and Mental Health Unit, S-20502 Malmö, Sweden)

  • Karin Moesch

    (Region Skåne, Malmö Addiction Center, Clinical Sports and Mental Health Unit, S-20502 Malmö, Sweden
    Swedish Sports Confederation, 114 33 Stockholm, Sweden
    Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Lund University, S-22100 Lund, Sweden)

  • Caroline Jönsson

    (Region Skåne, Malmö Addiction Center, Clinical Sports and Mental Health Unit, S-20502 Malmö, Sweden
    FIFPRO (Global Representative for Professional Football Players), 2132 Hoofddorp, The Netherlands
    Spelarföreningen (National Representative for Football Players), 433 63 Sävedalen, Sweden)

  • Göran Kenttä

    (Swedish Sports Confederation, 114 33 Stockholm, Sweden
    The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, 114 33 Stockholm, Sweden
    School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada)

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact on the world of sports due to periods of home quarantine, bans against public gatherings, travel restrictions, and a large number of postponed or canceled major sporting events. The literature hitherto is sparse, but early indications display signs of psychological impact on elite athletes due to the pandemic. However, beyond acute effects from lockdown and short-term interrupted athletic seasons, the postponed and still uncertain Olympic and Paralympic Games may represent a major career insecurity to many athletes world-wide, and may lead to severe changes to everyday lives and potentially prolonged psychological distress. Given the long-term perspective of these changes, researchers and stakeholders should address mental health and long-term job insecurity in athletes, including a specific focus on those with small financial margins, such as many female athletes, parasports athletes, athletes in smaller sports, and athletes from developing countries. Implications and the need for research are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Anders Håkansson & Karin Moesch & Caroline Jönsson & Göran Kenttä, 2020. "Potentially Prolonged Psychological Distress from Postponed Olympic and Paralympic Games during COVID-19—Career Uncertainty in Elite Athletes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2020:i:1:p:2-:d:466195
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Stefan Fröhlich & Christian Imboden & Samuel Iff & Jörg Spörri & Boris B. Quednow & Johannes Scherr & Erich Seifritz & Malte C. Claussen, 2021. "Prevalence and Risk Factors of Psychiatric Symptoms among Swiss Elite Athletes during the First Lockdown of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-12, October.

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