Authors : Aragya Khadka; Manoj K. Bhattarai

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 11 - November

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/52f9z4ea

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25nov1257

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Abstract : Football is the most popular sport played in the world and it demands a lot not only physically but also psychologically on the players. Although the main research focus of sports science has been on injury prevention and physical performance, new studies have demonstrated that sports-related injuries have significant mental health implications, most notably, depressive symptoms. The paper will assess the relationship between football injuries and depressive symptoms by integrating six peer-reviewed studies that assessed the same at professional, semi-professional and amateur levels and in different cultural and gender settings. These research prove that injury is a significant stressor that triggers the occurrence or aggravates the symptoms of depression, though the impact depends on gender, level of competitiveness, culture, and the timing in the career of an athlete. Longitudinal studies show a highly significant support to the directional hypothesis i.e. severe musculoskeletal injury predicts future depression and anxiety, but depressive symptoms symptoms do not predict injury. Furthermore, accumulation of psychological stress over the course of a competitive season, tensions with coaching team members, and cultural norms may make one susceptible to depressive reactions. The paper is concluded by implications on sports medicine and athletic training, coaching and interdisciplinary rehabilitation protocols.

Keywords : Football; Injury; Depression; Athlete Mental Health; Anxiety; Sports Psychology.

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