New research from Podium Analytics, with partners at the University of Bath, reveals the unique impact injury can have on the mental health of young athletes and how it differs from the adult experience. 

The findings, published in BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine, suggest that supporting young people through injury can help them develop mental skills and coping strategies for life. Adolescence is a period of profound social and psychological development, when sport plays a central role in shaping young athletes' identity: 'who they are', where they feel they belong and their aspirations for the future. At the same time, they are navigating heightened sensitivity to peer judgement, growing independence from parents, and strong emotional shifts, alongside academic and sporting pressures. So, when injury disrupts this, the impact can go far beyond time away from training or competition.

The research team sought to understand what happens to a young person's mental health when they get injured and are suddenly unable to take part in the sport they love. 

Lead Researcher of the Young Voices in Sport study, Dr Catherine Wheatley, explained:

“Our research has clearly shown that sports injury is a significant event in young people's lives, with the power to disrupt mental health and wellbeing. But support from coaches, parents, and peers can help young people learn coping strategies at a key time in their development. At Podium, our mission is to help people play more sport with less injury. By listening to young people's lived experiences, we can help build safer, more supportive sporting environments. With half of all mental health problems arising during adolescence there needs to be a greater focus on how sports in jury contributes to poor mental health for young people.”

What did Young Voices in Sport discover?

The study is the first research of its kind to explore how adolescent athletes' experience mental health during injury, without tying those experiences to a particular diagnosis or stage of recovery.

Through qualitative analysis, the study identified five key developmental factors that shape young athletes' mental health during injury:

1. Disruption to personal identity

For many young people, sport is a core part of who they are – so when injury stops them from taking part, it can shake their sense of identity. The study found young athletes questioning themselves ("who am I if I can't play?"), alongside feelings of self-blame and doubt about their strength and abilities. 

2. Difficulty regulating emotions and thoughts

Injury can trigger overwhelming thoughts and emotions, with some young people describing their thinking as spiralling or catastrophising. Without the right support, some developed unhelpful coping strategies, such as hiding their injury, withdrawing from others, or turning to food and alcohol.

3. Threats to their growing independence

Adolescence is a time when young people are becoming more independent, but injury can force them to rely more heavily on parents and other adults again. This loss of independence can feel frustrating and disempowering at a key stage of personal development. 

4. The powerful influence of peer judgement

Peers play a crucial role during adolescence, and injury can heighten worries about how others see them. While some young people feared judgement or exclusion from teammates, those supportive friends who stayed in touch described this a powerful. 

5. The challenge of navigating an adult-focused sport and medical system

Many young people are trying to navigate healthcare and sport systems that are primarily designed for adults, where their needs and voices can be overlooked. Difficulties accessing timely diagnoses, combined with fear of speaking openly to coaches, teachers or parents, can add stress and delay recovery.

Lead Researcher, Dr Catherine Wheatley said: 

"Our findings suggest that distress following injury for a young person often reflects developmental strain rather than mental illness. Injury interferes not just with sport, but with autonomy, identity formation and social connection at a sensitive life stage. The study also highlights what helps: young people cope better when they have flexible thinking skills, supportive coping strategies, emotionally validating parents, empathetic peers and clear support from organisations."

What needs to change?

This research shows that supporting injured young athletes means looking beyond the injury itself. Podium is calling for a shift in how we approach adolescent sports injury – one that recognises development, context and lived experience.

Dr Wheatley explained:

"Young people are incredibly articulate about their mental health. But we need to give them more skills to manage their thoughts and emotions around injury. Our study highlighted what helped a young person dealing with a long-term injury. Support and understanding from those around them primarily. Friends and teammates who showed up for them. Parents who understood and were empathetic. A clear pathway of diagnosis and next steps for recovery."

Podium would recommend the following other policy actions:

• Embedding psychological skills into everyday sports and medical settings to help young people manage uncertainty and make informed decisions.

• Supporting parents to avoid invalidating the feelings of their young person or leaning in to 'toxic positivity'.

• Better training for coaches and medical staff to understand this specific life stage and the impact injury can have on young people's mental health. Including, mental health modules within coaching badges. 

• For sports clubs, universities and schools to recognises that other teammates support those who are injured and help them feel part of the club during this tricky phase when they are injured. 

• Investing in more research to understand how mental health changes over time during injury for young people.

About the study

This research reflects a strong collaboration between Podium and academic partners. 
Podium staff involvement includes:

• Dr Catherine Wheatley, First author

• Dr Robert Mann, Co-author

• Carly McKay, Last author

• Kat Jones, Critical reader

The study was made possible through close collaboration with research colleagues at the University of Bath, whose expertise and partnership were central to the project.