Article view of a Narrative Review on Gender-Specific Psychosocial Stressors Influencing Mental Health in Elite and Semi-Elite Women Athletes

Abstract

Introduction: As part of the 2023 Special Edition, the Revista de Educação Física / Journal of Physical Education (REF/JPE) presents readers with scientific productions, present in recent literature, related to

 health in high-performance sports.

Objective: To present and recommend the reading of the study by Pascoe et al. on gender-specific psychosocial stressors in the mental health of elite and semi-elite female athletes to readers of the Journal of Physical Education (REF/JPE).

Development: The authors argue that elite and semi-elite female athletes are particularly at risk of suffering mental health problems and disorders. This is a narrative review whose methodology included peer-reviewed studies up to April 2022, published in books, journals, and reports. As a result, the article reports gender-specific psychosocial stressors as: interpersonal, organizational/structural, and sociocultural levels.

Conclusion: Elite and semi-elite female athletes are exposed to a range of gender-specific psychosocial stressors, which puts them at a particular risk of suffering mental health problems and developing mental disorders, because they are more likely to suffer some forms of violence and the gender inequalities that prevail in the structure and culture of sport at all levels.