Hendricks, ShariefAmino, NurVan Wyk, J.P.Gouttenbarge, VincentMellalieu, StephenSchlebusch, Ruan2022-11-012024Sharief Hendricks, Nur Amino, JP van Wyk, Vincent Gouttenbarge, Stephen Mellalieu & Ruan Schlebusch (2024) Inside edge – prevalence and factors associated with symptoms of anxiety/depression in professional cricketers, Research in Sports Medicine, 32:3, 524-536, DOI: 10.1080/15438627.2022.2139619.1543-8627 (print)1543-8635 (online)10.1080/15438627.2022.2139619https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/88033The purpose of this study was to i) determine the prevalence of anxiety/depression symptoms in professional cricketers and ii) identify factors associated with symptoms of anxiety/depression. One-hundred and seventy-seven (n = 177, response rate of 76%) professional cricketers completed the General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ-12). Odd ratios (OR) for anxiety/depression symptoms were related to players’ career, family and education. Prevalence of symptoms of anxiety/depression was 59% (n = 104/177). Anxiety/depression symptoms increased when players were contracted for more than 2 years (OR: 5.0; 95% CI: 1.2–21.3; p = 0.028) and if they played their last offseason overseas (OR: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.3–9.6; p = 0.013). Anxiety/depression symptoms decreased by 70% when players made “productive use” of their time in the offseason (OR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1–0.9; p = 0.036) and contracted for 2 years (OR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1–1.0; p = 0.049). These findings can be incorporated into cricket mental health literacy programmes to improve awareness and understanding, and to encourage early help-seeking.en© 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an electronic version of an article published in Research in Sports Medicine, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 524-536, 2024, doi : 10.1080/15438627.2022.2139619. Research in Sports Medicine is available online at : https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/gspm20.Mental healthCricketGeneral health questionnairePostprint Article