Mental health in Danish elite swimming using a quantitative holistic-ecological approach

Traditionally, studies applying a holistic-ecological approach in sport have used case study designs incorporating different qualitative methods (Henriksen & Stambulova, 2017). The current study applied a quantitative approach to investigate Danish elite swimmers’ perception of their environment in relation to their mental health using the recently developed Danish-Talent-Environment Survey (DTS; Wester et al., 2021).
A total of 518 athletes (Mage = 16.14, SD = 2.21) from 47 Danish swimming clubs were included in the study. They rated their environment based on the eight characteristics of the DTS that is comprised of 33 items. Furthermore, general information about their sport and lifestyle (e.g., training hours, restitution, stressors, injuries) was assessed together with their mental well-being (SWEMWBS) and their symptoms of depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7) using validated scales.
The DTS characteristics “Well-being within the environment”, “Somebody to talk to”, and “Inclusion and sparring” were rated highest, with scores above 4 on a 5-point Likert scale, whereas “Communication among key stakeholders” was perceived lowest (M = 2.73). In the following regression analyses, a higher score on the DTS was identified as a protective factor for mental well-being but it was not a significant factor for depressive or anxiety symptoms. Risk factors for mental health were being female, lack of sleep, along with perceived stressors from the sport, school, and private domain. Practical implications are discussed concerning the applicability of the DTS in other sports contexts and/or cultures and its relation to mental health.