More than half of study participants said playing had an ‘extremely positive’ impact on their mental state while a further 40 per cent reported a ‘somewhat positive’ effect.
The study of 500 rugby union players, both amateur and professional, found there was no statistically significant difference between male and female players.
Mental health dividend
Touch and tag rugby enthusiasts were more likely to report mental health benefits than contact players, according to researchers at the University of Edinburgh.
Non-contact rugby offers the mental health benefits linked to team sports without some of the potential drawbacks such as risk of injury, researchers suggest. They caution, however, that the number of non-contact players in the study was low.
Researchers also found amateur players were three times more likely than professionals to report some kind of mental health dividend. The trend is most likely explained by the pressures that elite athletes face, the team says.
Importance of coaches
Study participants most commonly cited fun, the chance to engage in physical activity and improved fitness as reasons for the sport’s positive mental impact.
They also listed rugby’s social environment and support networks, as well as the chance to be outdoors, as significant contributing factors.
Coaches and teammates were identified as key contributors to players’ mental health and well-being – both were twice as likely to be credited as parents or guardians.
Factors most commonly undermining players’ mental wellbeing were sprains, strains and fractures, followed by pressure to perform and not being selected. Fear of head injuries or concussions and exposure to aggressive coaches were other considerations.
Amateur vs pros
Out of 500 adult players who completed the online survey, 55 per cent were male, and 44 per cent were female. Two thirds of players were from the UK, 15 per cent were from Ireland and 12 per cent were based in South Africa.
Some 71 per cent of participants were amateur players, 87 per cent participated in contact rugby and nine per cent predominantly played non-contact versions of the sport.
When comparing rugby players’ mental health with that of the general population, the researchers found the results were similar. The study also concluded that amateur players were almost twice as likely to be ‘psychologically well’ compared with professional players.
The findings are published in the journal, BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine.