Background
Sports injuries in children and adolescents may affect physical health, emotional well-being, sleep, quality of life, confidence, sport participation, and readiness to return to sport.
Objective
This systematic review synthesized evidence on the relationship between sports-related injuries and mental health in athletes aged 19 years or younger, considering both psychological factors associated with injury vulnerability and psychosocial outcomes following injury.
Methods
The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched from inception to 8 July 2026, with eligibility restricted to studies published between 2021 and 2026. Risk of bias was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools, and findings were synthesized narratively.
Results
Twenty-one studies were included. Lower well-being, anxiety, stress, fatigue, sleep disturbance, kinesiophobia, and reduced psychological readiness were associated with injury occurrence, symptom burden, recovery, or reinjury. Conversely, injuries were associated with anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep problems, reduced health-related quality of life, lower confidence, disrupted athletic identity, and return-to-sport difficulties.
Conclusions
The findings suggest a potentially bidirectional association between sports injury and mental health within a broader biopsychosocial context. However, heterogeneity and predominantly observational designs limit causal inference.