AUTHOR=Ojio Yasutaka , Matsunaga Asami , Kawamura Shin , Horiguchi Masanori , Yoshitani Goro , Hatakeyama Kensuke , Amemiya Rei , Kanie Ayako , Fujii Chiyo 

TITLE=Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in the New Life With COVID-19: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study in Japan Rugby Top League Players

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 66 - 2021

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2021.1604380

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2021.1604380

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=The current study compared the prevalence of mental health problems, including psychological distress, anxiety and depression, in professional rugby players in the new life with COVID-19, with before COVID-19. Employing a web-based cross-sectional study, we compared the data from 227 athletes during the new life with COVID-19, with the data from before COVID-19, obtained from 251 athletes. In the new life with COVID-19, 15.0% of athletes reported mild symptoms, which was significantly lower than the 32.3% of athletes before COVID-19. The prevalence of moderate and severe symptoms was 6.7% and 3.5%, respectively, in the group during the new life with the COVID-19, and 4.8% and 5.2% in the before-COVID-19 group, with no significant difference. A two-step cluster analysis supported the existence of these two qualitatively different clusters in both groups. With the spread of new lifestyles related to COVID-19, some athletes might have improved mental health status. Such environmental adjustments alone may not have been sufficient to change the status of others. Therefore, sports society may require mental health care systems that adjust the environment and sustainably provide professional care.