Mental Health in Sport
A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Exercise and Health-Related Quality of Life".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 April 2026 | Viewed by 2
Special Issue Editors
Interests: youth sport systems; family involvement; organizational culture; athlete development
Interests: mental health and sport initiatives; para and adaptive sport programs; youth development through sport; hockey and family
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Understanding mental health is a crucial step toward fostering the overall well-being and performance of sport participants across a range of contexts. Individuals who participate in sport (e.g., athletes, coaches, referees, and administrators) often face immense pressure, high expectations, and intense emotional strain that can degrade mental health. Conversely, participation in well-organized sport has the potential to bolster mental health by fostering resilience, enhancing efficacy, and promoting positive social relationships. Despite general consensus around the array of positive and negative mental health outcomes associated with sport participation, there remains limited understanding of the individual, interpersonal, organizational, and societal mechanisms that lead to these outcomes. Moreover, there remains a lack of consensus regarding the role of sport in mitigating public mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.
Analyzing the differences in mental health knowledge and support across genders, age groups, levels of competition, and roles is also essential, as the literature on mental health in sport continues to develop. For example, research suggests that female athletes may experience unique mental health challenges related to societal expectations around adherence to gender norms or body image, whereas male athletes may experience challenges related to perceptions of masculinity or the social stigma associated with reporting abuse. Athletes at younger or more recreational levels may encounter different mental health challenges related to social exclusion, whereas athletes at older or more elite levels may experience challenges related to competition, deselection, and injury. By prioritizing mental health across the full range of sport-participating individuals, scholars and practitioners can help individuals thrive in sport while also ensuring sport fulfills its promise toward the promotion of a public good. To amplify scholarly research on mental health in sport, we welcome empirical submissions addressing (but not limited to) the following questions:
- What are the prevalence rates and patterns of mental health disorders across age, gender, sport, level of competition, and role, and how do these compare to those observed in the general public?
- What role do individuals (e.g., coaches, parents, and peers) and groups (e.g., families, teams, and organizations) play in positive and negative mental health outcomes?
- How can sport organizations tailor mental health programming to support the needs of their participants?
- What factors contribute to the stigma surrounding mental health in sport?
- What impact does early intervention for mental health challenges have on individuals’ long-term performance and well-being?
- What role do individual characteristics (e.g., perfectionism, social anxiety, gender expectations) play in mental health struggles among sport participants?
- How effective are mental health education and awareness programs in promoting mental health among sport participants across age, gender, sport, level of competition, and role?
- In what ways does sport mitigate or exacerbate public mental health concerns, such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation?
Recognizing the complex relationship between mental health and the sport environment is essential, and sport participants all benefit when awareness and support around mental health are prioritized. Fostering this awareness is a vital step toward reducing stigma and creating safe, supportive spaces for anyone facing mental health challenges in sport. To advance this goal, we invite submissions of original research that deepens understanding of mental health measurement, interventions, or practices in sport. Researchers and practitioners across disciplines and drawing upon a wide range of theories, literature, and methods are encouraged to submit.
Prof. Dr. Travis Dorsch
Dr. Skye Gerald Arthur-Banning
Dr. Anthony G. Delli Paoli
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- mental health
- sport
- well-being
- human functioning
- individual differences
- interpersonal influences
- intervention
- public health
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
