ABSTRACT

The role of depression and anxiety on college athletes has been studied and well-documented, yet the relationship between depression and anxiety on injured college athletes needs further exploration. The present study hopes to explore how injuries on women and men in college sports affects their mental health such as depression and anxiety. The purpose is to find a connection between athletes who are injured and the likelihood of developing depression and anxiety. In this study, 44 participants were asked to fill out a survey which included questions based off the Beck’s Anxiety Inventory and Beck’s Depression Inventory. Results showed high statistical significance between depression and anxiety in injured college athletes and there is a significant difference between the rates of depression and anxiety in injured versus non-injured athletes. Injured players, when compared to non-injured players, showed significantly increased levels of depression as well as increased levels of anxiety. Non-injured players showed some signs of distress but not enough to be significant. Potential confounds that may have affected results were participants may have already had depression or anxiety before sustaining an injury, and there is no way of telling if their depression and anxiety is from other factors or if the injury made these symptoms more prominent. From these findings, colleges can acknowledge the mental state of their injured players and accommodate for them. They will be able to create a better environment for athletes and allow the athletes to talk to a sports counselor about their injuries and mental health.