MENTAL HEALTH, STRESS MANAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE IN ELITE FOOTBALL PLAYERS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS AND INTERVENTION STRATEGIES
Abstract
Background: Elite football players face unprecedented psychosocial pressures affecting mental health outcomes and performance. Mental health issues in footballers have emerged as significant contemporary concerns, yet systematic evidence on the relationship between stress management, mental well-being, and athletic performance remains limited.
Objective: To systematically review current evidence on the relationship between mental health, stress, and performance in elite football players, identify psychosocial issues, and synthesise evidence-based intervention strategies.
Methods: A comprehensive systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. Keywords included: "mental health," "stress," "anxiety," "depression," "football/soccer players," "psychological performance," "coping strategies," and "intervention." Studies published between 2015 and 2022 were included. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale assessed methodological quality.
Results: Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria (14 high-quality, 9 moderate-quality). Key findings demonstrate: (1) 72.3% of elite young footballers experience anxiety symptoms and 81.8% experience depressive symptoms; (2) Perceived stress significantly correlates with reduced performance outcomes (r = −0.48 to −0.67); (3) Mental health difficulties negatively impact performance in 95% of affected players; (4) Inadequate mental health support exists in 80% of elite football programs; (5) Multimodal interventions combining psychological skills training, social support, and organizational restructuring reduce stress and improve performance; (6) Contemporary issues include fixture congestion, social media pressure, injury-related psychological distress, and career transition uncertainty.
Conclusion: Mental health represents a critical yet under addressed factor in elite football performance. Evidence-based psychological interventions, organizational support systems, and stress management protocols significantly improve both mental well-being and athletic performance. Elite football clubs and governing bodies must prioritize systematic mental health assessment, evidence-based intervention implementation, and support infrastructure development.
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