Mental health literacy, mental health experiences and help-seeking behaviours of Chinese elite athletes: a qualitative study

Danran Bu; Chun Qing Zhang; Jing Dong Liu; Zhe Han; Xiang Wang; Zhijian Huang

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1391597

Mental health literacy, mental health experiences and help-seeking behaviours of Chinese elite athletes: a qualitative study

Danran Bu, Chun Qing Zhang, Jing Dong Liu, Zhe Han, Xiang Wang, Zhijian Huang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Academy of Wellness and Human Development

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Introduction: Elite athletes' help-seeking on mental health might be influenced by their mental health literacy (MHL) and mental health experiences. The current study aimed to explore the MHL, experiences and help-seeking behaviours among elite athletes using a qualitative approach.

Methods: Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted among 20 Chinese elite athletes, 12 coaches, and 5 team officials. Interview data was analyzed using content analysis.

Results: Seven main themes emerged from the analysis. The current study revealed that Chinese elite athletes suffered from various mental health issues and athletes' MHL levels, help-seeking attitudes and intentions, Chinese sports environments, and Chinese cultural background could impact their help-seeking behaviours.

Conclusion: Support for Chinese elite athletes' mental health and help-seeking requires improvement.

Original language	English
Article number	1391597
Number of pages	12
Journal	Frontiers in Public Health
Volume	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1391597
Publication status	Published - 15 May 2024

Scopus Subject Areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

User-Defined Keywords

mental health literacy
mental health experiences
help-seeking
Chinese elite athletes
a qualitative study

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.3389/fpubh.2024.1391597

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title = "Mental health literacy, mental health experiences and help-seeking behaviours of Chinese elite athletes: a qualitative study",

abstract = "Introduction: Elite athletes' help-seeking on mental health might be influenced by their mental health literacy (MHL) and mental health experiences. The current study aimed to explore the MHL, experiences and help-seeking behaviours among elite athletes using a qualitative approach.Methods: Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted among 20 Chinese elite athletes, 12 coaches, and 5 team officials. Interview data was analyzed using content analysis.Results: Seven main themes emerged from the analysis. The current study revealed that Chinese elite athletes suffered from various mental health issues and athletes' MHL levels, help-seeking attitudes and intentions, Chinese sports environments, and Chinese cultural background could impact their help-seeking behaviours.Conclusion: Support for Chinese elite athletes' mental health and help-seeking requires improvement.",

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author = "Danran Bu and Zhang, {Chun Qing} and Liu, {Jing Dong} and Zhe Han and Xiang Wang and Zhijian Huang",

note = "The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the Hubei Province Social Science Post-Grant Project (grant number HBSK2022YB573), the Rifle Psychological Service Project of Shooting and Archery Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sports of the People{\textquoteright}s Republic of China (grant number HT2023-10), and the Hubei Provincial Department of Education Philosophy and Social Science Research Project (grant number 23Q157). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 Bu, Zhang, Liu, Han, Wang and Huang.",

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AU - Liu, Jing Dong

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AU - Wang, Xiang

AU - Huang, Zhijian

N1 - The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the Hubei Province Social Science Post-Grant Project (grant number HBSK2022YB573), the Rifle Psychological Service Project of Shooting and Archery Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sports of the People’s Republic of China (grant number HT2023-10), and the Hubei Provincial Department of Education Philosophy and Social Science Research Project (grant number 23Q157). Publisher Copyright: © 2024 Bu, Zhang, Liu, Han, Wang and Huang.

PY - 2024/5/15

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N2 - Introduction: Elite athletes' help-seeking on mental health might be influenced by their mental health literacy (MHL) and mental health experiences. The current study aimed to explore the MHL, experiences and help-seeking behaviours among elite athletes using a qualitative approach.Methods: Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted among 20 Chinese elite athletes, 12 coaches, and 5 team officials. Interview data was analyzed using content analysis.Results: Seven main themes emerged from the analysis. The current study revealed that Chinese elite athletes suffered from various mental health issues and athletes' MHL levels, help-seeking attitudes and intentions, Chinese sports environments, and Chinese cultural background could impact their help-seeking behaviours.Conclusion: Support for Chinese elite athletes' mental health and help-seeking requires improvement.

AB - Introduction: Elite athletes' help-seeking on mental health might be influenced by their mental health literacy (MHL) and mental health experiences. The current study aimed to explore the MHL, experiences and help-seeking behaviours among elite athletes using a qualitative approach.Methods: Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted among 20 Chinese elite athletes, 12 coaches, and 5 team officials. Interview data was analyzed using content analysis.Results: Seven main themes emerged from the analysis. The current study revealed that Chinese elite athletes suffered from various mental health issues and athletes' MHL levels, help-seeking attitudes and intentions, Chinese sports environments, and Chinese cultural background could impact their help-seeking behaviours.Conclusion: Support for Chinese elite athletes' mental health and help-seeking requires improvement.

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Mental health literacy, mental health experiences and help-seeking behaviours of Chinese elite athletes: a qualitative study

Abstract

Scopus Subject Areas

User-Defined Keywords

UN SDGs

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