The implications of COVID-19 on mental health and well-being in young athletes in Malta

Abstract

This paper explores the effects of COVID-19 on the mental health and well-being of ten Maltese 14-year old athletes and their coping strategies at the time of partial lockdown when sports and schools were stopped. Semi-structured interviews were carried out and data was analysed using thematic analysis, yielding three main themes: training and lifestyle; social interactions; and coping strategies. The findings show that COVID-19 had a deep effect on the mental health of participating young athletes, especially during the partial lockdown period. Nevertheless, young athletes were able to find different ways to cope during this period such as training at home, finding different ways to communicate with their friends, as well as trying new activities. Findings in this study are important for stakeholders and policymakers developing new return-to-sport policies as they highlight the importance of keeping mental health and well-being at the core of policy development.