The characteristics of depression and sleep status among elite Chinese badminton athletes

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and sleep quality among elite Chinese badminton athletes, as well as identify the factors associated with depression. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was performed, with 117 elite badminton athletes as the subjects. Data were collected using paper-based questionnaires, which consisted of three parts: the first part collected basic information, including gender, age, height, weight, years of training, daily training duration, weekly training frequency, and weekly training hours; the second part assessed depressive symptoms using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS); the third part measured sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). RESULTS: The results showed that the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms among the 117 elite badminton athletes was as high as 56.4% (N = 66). Among these, mild depression was the most common, accounting for 41.0% (N = 48), followed by moderate depression at 15.4% (N = 18); notably, no severe depression cases were found. Furthermore, 32.5% (N = 38) of the athletes reported poor sleep quality. Logistic regression analysis revealed that sleep quality was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (OR = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.06-0.48, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a high prevalence of depressive symptoms and sleep disorders among elite Chinese badminton athletes, revealing a significant correlation between the two. Consequently, it is imperative for coaches and athletes to prioritize mental health and sleep management strategies.