Author(s): HENDRICKS, S., VAN WYK, J.P., PLAYER, B., HARKER, N., SCHLEBUSCH, R., Institution: UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN, Country: SOUTH AFRICA, Abstract-ID: 2588

INTRODUCTION:
Cricket is a popular team sport, with 108 member countries and over 300 million male and female participants. A relationship between anxiety/depression and alcohol use among cricketers has been suggested, however the association between the two constructs has yet to be studied. Furthermore, which factors may influence this relationship is yet to be understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was i) determine the association between anxiety/depression and alcohol use in professional cricket, ii) identify factors which may influence the relationship between anxiety/depression and alcohol use in professional cricket.
METHODS:
This study used a cross-sectional survey design and formed part of a larger alcohol consumption education project. A total of 227 current professional cricketers (n = 146 male and 81 female) who are members of the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) participated in the study. For alcohol consumption behaviours, the following questionnaires were included in the online survey - the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Binge Drinking Questionnaire. Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) was also calculated from the AUDIT responses. Multi-level logistic regressions were conducted to test the association between each alcohol behavioural measure (outcome), anxiety/depression (primary explanatory variable) (unadjusted models) and the following explanatory variables: university education (yes or no); age (age categories 18-24, 25-29, or 30 and over years); contract status (1 year or 2 years and more); playing overseas during the last off-season (yes or no); productive use of spare time during the off-season (yes or no). After each adjusted multi-level logistic regression model, post-estimation marginal predictions were computed to estimate the adjusted probability for each interaction between GHQ and the explanatory variables on the outcome.
RESULTS:
In the adjusted mixed-effects model, male cricketers who reported not making productive use of their off-season had 4.7 times higher odds of hazardous alcohol consumption (AUDIT-C) compared to those who did (adjusted OR = 4.73; 95% CI: 1.43–15.58; p = 0.011). Female cricketers aged 30 years or older had significantly higher odds of problem drinking (AUDIT) compared to those aged 18–24 (adjusted OR = 23.83; 95% CI: 2.06–275.36; p = 0.011).
CONCLUSION:
Although symptoms of anxiety/depression were not directly associated with alcohol outcomes, key cricket-related and demographic factors predicted misuse. Among males, not making productive use of the off-season and university education increased hazardous drinking risk. Among females, older age (≥30 years) and longer contracts significantly predicted problem drinking. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing off-season structure for males and tailored support for older, established female players, rather than universal mental health-alcohol programs.