SMHAT-1 mental health screening in Russian male professional soccer players: associations with age, competition level, and self-perceived team status.

INTRODUCTION

Mental-health symptoms in professional athletes may impair performance, making timely screening important. This study examined Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ; SMHAT-1 Step 1) scores and their associations with competition level, age, and self-rated team status in 170 male Russian soccer players.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 170 male Russian soccer players (mean age 21.1 ± 4.3 years). APSQ scores and their associations with competition level, age, and self-rated team status were assessed using ordinary least squares regression with HC3 robust standard errors.

RESULTS

Mean APSQ score was 17.8 ± 4.4, and 101/170 players screened positive at the ≥17 triage threshold (59.4%; 95% CI 51.9-66.5%). Age was positively associated with APSQ score (b = 0.28 points/year, 95% CI 0.07-0.48, p = 0.010). Self-rated team status showed an uncertain negative association (b = 0.28, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.07, p = 0.113). The overall four-level competition term was significant in the full model (F(3,164) = 3.37, p = 0.020); however, no planned contrast remained significant after false-discovery-rate correction, and the overall league test was not significant after exclusion of the four-player First League subgroup (F(2,161) = 1.52, p = 0.221).

DISCUSSION: These cross-sectional findings require cautious interpretation and confirmation in longitudinal, team-linked studies with further psychometric evaluation of the Russian adaptation.