Exploring the holistic paradigm in sports psychology and the mental health challenges faced by elite athletes
of strategic sport athletes report reduced stress
of men's tennis players face online harassment
reduction in mortality risk with higher resilience
In 2021, the world watched as gymnast Simone Biles, arguably the greatest athlete in her sport's history, made a stunning decision to withdraw from multiple Olympic finals. Her reason was as simple as it was revolutionary: she needed to protect her mental health. Similarly, tennis champion Naomi Osaka openly discussed her struggles with anxiety and depression, prioritizing her psychological well-being over championship glory 3 .
Elite athletes face immense psychological challenges that the traditional sports world is often ill-equipped to handle. While we celebrate their physical prowess, we've largely ignored the complex interplay of mind, body, and the unique pressures of modern athletic fame.
This article explores the emerging holistic paradigm in sports psychology—a transformative approach that honors athletes as complete human beings rather than mere performance machines.
Today's athletes navigate a landscape transformed by social media and new economic opportunities, creating what experts term the "attention economy"—an environment where visibility and engagement become currency.
The rise of Name, Image, Likeness deals creates additional pressure, turning social media presence into potential revenue streams 1 .
Athletes report feeling pressured to constantly cultivate their personal brands and chase online engagement 1 .
Studies show 21% of men's tennis players and 17% of men's basketball players report online harassment 1 .
NCAA President Charlie Baker has identified gambling-related harassment as "enormously problematic," with studies showing significant percentages of athletes reporting online harassment related to betting outcomes 1 .
A transformative shift is occurring in how we support athlete well-being. The traditional approach to sports psychology primarily focused on performance profiling and mental skills training, treating athletes almost as input-output machines designed for public entertainment .
The emerging holistic model recognizes that athletes are complex, multidimensional human beings with the same life challenges as anyone else—they just happen to be pushing their bodies and minds to extreme limits.
Practitioners work to develop the individual beyond their athletic identity, addressing personal challenges, relationships, and life transitions .
This approach incorporates evidence-based therapies like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based therapies, and trauma-informed approaches .
Unlike traditional models that separate mental and physical training, holistic practice honors their profound interconnection .
Practitioners prioritize creating caring, supportive relationships with athletes rather than purely technical coaching dynamics .
The practical benefits are significant. Athletes working with professionals who adopt this comprehensive approach often report improved performance alongside enhanced well-being, even when therapy sessions never directly address training or competition techniques .
A 2025 study published in Scientific Reports provides compelling evidence for how physical activity benefits mental health and cognitive functioning in adolescents, including young athletes. This research is particularly valuable for exploring how different types of sports affect psychological well-being differently 6 .
29
Participants (Football, baseball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse)
15
Participants (Track, cross-country, tennis, golf)
19
Participants
| Sport Category | Impact on Stress | Impact on Cognitive Flexibility |
|---|---|---|
| Strategic Sports | Significant reduction | No significant improvement |
| Self-Paced Sports | No significant reduction | Significant improvement |
| Non-Athlete Controls | No significant reduction | No significant improvement |
| Mental Health Parameter | Impact of Single Exercise Session | Statistical Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Distress (DASS) | Significant decrease | p < 0.001 |
| Depression | Significant decrease | p = 0.019 |
| Anxiety | Significant decrease | p = 0.012 |
| Stress | Significant decrease | p < 0.001 |
These findings demonstrate that different sports types offer distinct psychological benefits. Strategic sports, with their cognitive demands for quick decision-making and adaptation, significantly reduce stress. Self-paced sports, focusing on personal execution and precision, enhance cognitive flexibility. Most importantly, a single exercise session provided immediate mental health benefits across all participants, reducing depression, anxiety, and stress 6 .
| Assessment Tool | Primary Function | Specific Domains Measured |
|---|---|---|
| Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool (SMHAT-1) | Comprehensive screening for elite athletes | Multiple mental health domains through stepped process |
| Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ) | Initial triage for psychological strain | Self-regulation, performance, external coping |
| Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) | Depression symptom screening | Severity of depressive symptoms |
| Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) | Anxiety symptom screening | Severity of anxiety symptoms |
| Brief Eating Disorder in Athletes Questionnaire (BEDAQ) | Disordered eating screening | Eating disorder symptoms specific to athletes |
| Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS) | Mental health symptom assessment | Levels of depression, anxiety, and stress |
Recent research on the SMHAT-1 has revealed challenges with false negatives in its initial triage step, prompting calls for improved, purpose-built screening tools that can better capture the full spectrum of athlete mental health concerns 2 .
Beyond traditional psychological support, several innovative approaches show significant promise for supporting athlete mental health:
Technology offers new possibilities for mental health support, from mindfulness apps to wearable devices tracking sleep and recovery metrics 8 .
When high-profile athletes speak openly about mental health struggles, they create powerful "parasocial relationships" that reduce public stigma 7 .
The 2024 Summer Olympics provided compelling examples of psychological resilience, most notably in Simone Biles' extraordinary comeback 4 .
Research increasingly shows that higher resilience is associated with better long-term outcomes, including a 25% reduction in mortality risk among older adults. For athletes and non-athletes alike, developing this capacity helps people not just overcome obstacles but leverage them as opportunities for growth 4 .
The conversation around sports and mental health has fundamentally shifted. We're moving beyond the outdated model of athletes as superhuman performers toward a more compassionate, evidence-based understanding of their psychological needs.
Honoring the complete human experience of athletes with all its complexities
Using research and data to inform mental health support strategies
Integrating therapeutic support, technology, and resilience building
This evolution benefits more than just elite competitors. It offers all of us a powerful lesson: that true excellence springs not from ignoring our human needs, but from embracing them as essential components of success. The future of sports belongs not to the strongest or fastest alone, but to those who are supported in developing resilience both on and off the field.