Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42145486›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in public health2026

Does sports participation reduce disparities in anxiety and depression symptoms among sexual minority and heterosexual undergraduate students? A cross-sectional study.

André Felipe Oliveira da Cruz, Pedro Victor Felisberto da Silva, Mateus Sanches Jokura, Jessenia Marise Sales Campos, Marcelo Augusto Alves Dos Santos, Thaís Aparecida Medeiros Amorim, Giovanni Henrique Quizzini, Matheus Augusto Martins Correia, Ana Paula Rodrigues Rocha, Camila Buonani and 4 more

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Article in Frontiers in public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

André Felipe Oliveira da CruzSports and Strength Exercise Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
Pedro Victor Felisberto da SilvaSports and Strength Exercise Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
Mateus Sanches JokuraSports and Strength Exercise Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
Jessenia Marise Sales CamposSports and Strength Exercise Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
Marcelo Augusto Alves Dos SantosSports and Strength Exercise Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
Thaís Aparecida Medeiros AmorimSports and Strength Exercise Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
Giovanni Henrique QuizziniSports and Strength Exercise Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
Matheus Augusto Martins CorreiaSports and Strength Exercise Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
Ana Paula Rodrigues RochaSports and Strength Exercise Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
Camila BuonaniDepartment of Physical Education, Faculty of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
Sueyla Ferreira da Silva Dos SantosHealth and Movement Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
Andrea DeslandesInstitute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Lucas Melo NevesGraduate Program in Movement Science - Interunits, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
Fabricio E RossiSports and Strength Exercise Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Although sports participation is recognized for its psychological benefits, it remains unclear whether participation in competitive sports may produce different effects on these symptoms among sexual minority university students compared to their heterosexual peers. This study aimed to compare anxiety and depression symptoms between 524 undergraduate students engaged and not engaged in sports competitions by sexual orientation. Methods: With cross-sectional design, this study included 524 undergraduate students, categorized as engaged in sports participation or not engaged, and by sexual orientation (bisexual, gay/lesbian, and pansexual). Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Results: Sexual minority students (bisexual, gay/lesbian, and pansexual) with sports participation had a significantly higher prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety (50.5% vs. 30.2%) and depression symptoms (50.5% vs. 35.6%), as a higher risk for anxiety (OR = 2.4 95% CI: 1.38 to 4.03, Discussion: Sports participation did not appear to minimize anxiety or depression symptoms among sexual minority students, particularly among gay/lesbian, highlighting the need for more inclusive and supportive university sports environments.

Indexed as

AnxietyDepressionHeterosexualitySexual and Gender MinoritiesSportsStudentsAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleSurveys and QuestionnairesUniversitiesYoung Adultcollege studentsminority stresssexual orientationsports participationstudent-athletes

Identifiers

PMID42145486
PMCPMC13171392

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.