The number of professional footballers reporting anxiety and depression symptoms has risen sharply since measures to reduce the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19 caused the suspension of professional football activities, a survey by FIFPRO and Amsterdam University Medical Centers has found.

Notably, the percentage of professional footballers reporting symptoms of depression has doubled. Between March 22 and April 14, FIFPRO and affiliated national player associations surveyed 1,602 professional footballers in countries that had implemented drastic measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus such as mass home-confinement. 1,134 male players, with a mean age of 26, and 468 female players, with a mean age of 23, took part in the survey.

Twenty-two percent of women players and 13 percent of men players reported symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of depression. Eighteen percent of the women and 16 percent of the men reported symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of generalized anxiety. (In most scientific research, a higher number of women than men report symptoms of depression and anxiety.)

The percentage of players reporting symptoms was significantly higher among those worried about their future in the football industry, the survey found. In a separate survey of 307 players, with a similar mean age, in December and January - before most football competitions were suspended - 11 percent of the female players and six percent of the male players reported symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of depression. Read more: https://www.fifpro.org/en/health/coronavirus-shutdown-sharp-rise-in-players-reporting-depression-symptoms