Reported mental health symptoms among sporting officials varied widely across studies
A review of referees, judges and umpires pooled anxiety and depression symptom estimates, while finding marked differences between studies.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Pooled studies suggest that elevated anxiety and depressive symptoms occur among a minority of sporting officials. These estimates concern symptoms rather than confirmed diagnoses, and results varied substantially between studies. The review also mapped potential personal and sporting-environment factors, but it did not establish that changing those factors would improve mental health.
Study-specific symptom thresholds and assessment windows are missing from the abstract. Very high variation between studies limits how confidently this abstract-based account can apply the pooled figure to any particular group of officials.
What researchers found
Elevated anxiety symptoms
Estimate and interval are percentages of officials with elevated anxiety symptoms. No comparator or common symptom-assessment window is reported.
Factors studied
The review examined match environments, abuse, officiating experience and personal characteristics as possible risk or protective factors. The abstract lists these topics without estimating how strongly each was related to particular mental health outcomes.
Variation matters
Large differences between studies mean the pooled proportion should not be treated as a universal figure for every sport or level of officiating. The abstract does not explain which settings account for those differences.
The original publication
The Mental Health of Sporting Officials: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Lindsay R, Walton CC, Kittel A et al.
Sports Med · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41014436
- Record checked
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