Gorczynski, Paul ORCID: 0000-0001-8876-8935 and Webb, Tom (2022) Evaluating the public’s perceptions of football players living with mental health symptoms and disorders. In: Sports Psychiatry. Abstracts of the International Society for Sports Psychiatry (ISSP) Spring Scientific Meeting, May 21–22, 2022, 1 (3). Hogrefe OpenMind, Göttingen; Bern; Boston, p. 128. ISSN 2674-0052 (Print), 2674-0052 (Online) (doi:https://doi.org/10.1024/2674-0052/a000024)

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Abstract

Introduction
We examined changes in public perceptions of football players before and after disclosure of a mental disorder.
Methods
Individuals 18 years old and over participated in a cross-sectional survey study. Participants were asked to assume the role of a Premier League manager. Participants were first presented with a neutral vignette of a fictitious player who was of exceptional ability and who had not disclosed a mental disorder. Participants were then presented with three separate vignettes, each referring to the same player who then disclosed different disorders (major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), substance use disorder (SUD)). Following the presentation of each vignette, participants were asked whether they would sign the player to their team.
Results
376 individuals participated in the study. Participants were most knowledgeable about MDD, and least knowledgeable about GAD. Repeated measures ANOVAs compared the effects of disclosure of a mental disorder on the likelihood of being signed to the team. After disclosure of each mental disorder, participants indicated they were significantly less likely to sign a player (p<.01). Of the three disorders, participants were least likely to sign a player who disclosed SUD.
Conclusion
Disclosure of mental disorders by an elite athlete may carry career related consequences, like not being signed to a team. Mental health literacy strategies for key front office staff may address the effects of public stigma related to mental health symptoms and disorders.

Item Type:	Conference Proceedings
Title of Proceedings:	Sports Psychiatry
Additional Information:	The published abstract is part of the "Abstracts of the International Society for Sports Psychiatry (ISSP) Spring Scientific Meeting, Mai 21–22, 2022." The Abstracts of the conference were published Online in the journal Sports Psychiatry 1(3): 125-129, on August 18, 2022: https://doi.org/10.1024/2674-0052/a000024. - MP
Uncontrolled Keywords:	NA
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM)
Last Modified:	04 Oct 2022 12:56
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/37564

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