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Mental Health in the Young Athlete

  • Child and Adolescent Disorders (TD Benton, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Psychiatry Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Correction to this article was published on 02 October 2020

This article has been updated

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The goal of the present paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of mental health concerns in young athletes, with a focus on common disorders, as well as population-specific risk factors.

Recent Findings

Athletes experience similar mental health concerns as non-athlete peers, such as anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation, ADHD, eating disorders, and substance abuse. However, they also experience unique stressors that put them at risk for the development or exacerbation of mental health disorders. Student athletes have to balance academics with rigorous training regimens while focusing on optimal performance and managing high expectations. Physical injuries, overtraining, concussion, sleep disorders, and social identity are some of the factors that also impact the mental health of student athletes.

Summary

Existing literature highlights the need to develop proactive mental health and wellness education for young athletes, and to develop services that recognize the unique needs of this population.

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Change history

  • 02 October 2020

    In the recently published article “Mental Health in the Young Athlete” the following author name was inadvertently misspelled as Christine L. Master. The correct spelling of the author’s name is: Christina L. Master as shown above.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. David Rettew for taking the time to review this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Melissa S. Xanthopoulos, Tami Benton, Jason Lewis & Julia A. Case

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Tami Benton

  3. Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine, Division of Pediatric Orthopedics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Christina L. Master

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Christina L. Master

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Xanthopoulos, M.S., Benton, T., Lewis, J. et al. Mental Health in the Young Athlete. Curr Psychiatry Rep 22, 63 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-020-01185-w

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