Female Health Literacy Among Professional Female Soccer Players and Their Staff-A Single-Club Exploratory Study.

OBJECTIVES

Female health literacy (FHL) remains poorly understood in professional soccer, despite its relevance to injury prevention, performance, and career longevity. This study assessed FHL among players and staff at a professional soccer club.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional questionnaire.

METHODS

Sixteen female players (18-35 y, 16 h/wk training) and 6 staff (5 coaching/performance, 1 support/operational; 2 females, 4 males) participated. A bespoke 42-item questionnaire (Qualtrics) assessed FHL across 8 domains: menstrual health, breast health, pelvic floor health, low energy availability, bone health, concussion, anterior cruciate ligament injury, and pregnancy. Scores (max = 49) reflected overall FHL. Participants also rated their confidence in their current knowledge and comfort discussing each domain on a 5-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using linear models (R Studio).

RESULTS

Overall FHL scores did not differ (t20 = 1.21, P = .24) between players (median: 54.7% of correct answers given) and staff (63.8%), although marked within-group variance (players: 27%-81%; staff: 54.1%-81.6%) was evident. Staff scored higher in the pregnancy domain (t20 = 2.97, P = .007); no other domain showed between-group differences (P ≥ .06). Players (4 [1-5]) and staff (3 [1-5]) reported similar comfort levels discussing FHL domains, and confidence levels in their FHL knowledge were also comparable between players (2 [1-4]) and staff (3 [2-4]).

CONCLUSION

FHL scores among professional soccer players and staff are highly varied. Improving FHL through targeted, context-specific education and structural support may promote informed decision making, and support player performance and well-being.