Between Caitlin Clark drawing a historic viewership in women’s basketball and Nebraska volleyball setting a world attendance record, women’s sports have seen a rise in popularity over the last few years. But despite the increased interest and admiration, the pressures and unique stressors on female athletes can take a toll on their mental health.
Some of the top issues among female athletes include burnout, anxiety and depression. From high pressure to external and internal stressors, perfectionism and inequality, several factors can make them vulnerable.
Common mental health disorders among female athletes
A report from the International Olympic Committee found that female athletes are at a higher risk for depression and anxiety than their male counterparts. A survey found that 15-20% of all athletes experienced depression, but that number was higher for female athletes in certain sports.
“Body image and eating disorders are very prevalent among female athletes, more so than male athletes,” says Nebraska Medicine clinical psychologist Meghan Fruth, PsyD. “This is largely due to uniforms that reveal much of the body, like those in volleyball, swimming, ice skating and dance. Females also deal with menstrual cycles – energy levels will fluctuate, the risk of injury may be higher and the recovery process is different.”
Mental health struggles can impact injuries and hinder recovery, creating a vicious cycle of stress.
“We definitely see the correlation between stress and injury,” says Dr. Fruth. “If you’re always stressed and not dealing with it, your body is in a constant state of fight or flight. It’s going to release too much cortisol and cause inflammation. Then you’re more likely to be injured and impact recovery, which can cause more stress.”
Research also shows that women of color and LGBTQIA+ athletes are at a higher risk for stress as well as mental health disorders due to microaggressions, discrimination, lack of representation and systemic barriers to advancement.
Contributing factors to mental health disorders
In addition to body image pressures, other contributing factors include the combination of high performance, the stress of school and work balance with competition and the potential lack of mental health support.
“So many things women and girls go through are glossed over as what everyone experiences or should just power through,” says Dr. Fruth. “When you dig into it, however, there are so many differences in mental health diagnoses between males and females that we just forget about.”
Female athletes are more prone to burnout caused by prolonged stress and overtraining. This can be exacerbated by high expectations from others or themselves and managing personal responsibilities. Most female athletes are hardworking, competitive, goal-oriented, intelligent and persistent, which can unfortunately predispose them to mental health disorders.
“I’ve noticed that perfectionism is high when working with female athletes,” says Dr. Fruth. “There’s almost a need to outwork men and compensate for the fact that there’s lower pay and fewer opportunities for women.”
Additional challenges such as fewer opportunities, lower pay, perfectionism, sexual misconduct and bullying can make women question their self-worth and intensify mental health issues.
Providing support
Recognizing the signs of possible mental health disorders, whether in yourself or someone else, is crucial. Common signs may include:
- Changes in behavior or appetite.
- Negative self-talk.
- Increased irritability.
- Feeling withdrawn and isolated.
- Loss of interest in sports.
“The beauty of team sports is you have a built-in community,” says Dr. Fruth. “Even something as simple as checking in with someone and asking how they’re doing can be so powerful. Small moments build up over time and show you care.”
Open and supportive communication has helped destigmatize mental health over the years.
“Kids and teens are now talking about mental health, stress and how they’re feeling more,” says Dr. Fruth. “I don’t think we’ve seen what that looks like for their mental health in the long run, but it shows you can build a solid support system at a young age. I don’t think that was always the case – mental health was kind of a taboo topic, and today people are much more open about it.”
Get help for your invisible illness from a compassionate, experienced mental health expert. Call for an appointment with one of our behavioral health specialists at 800.922.0000.
