Cognitive and Mental Health in Recently Retired Collegiate Football Players: Findings from the CARE Consortium.
6 affiliations
- 1Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. [email protected].
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
- 3Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- 4Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- 5Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.
- 6Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Abstract
Background
While long-term psychosocial health in football players has been extensively studied, little is known about cognitive and mental health during early sport retirement. This study examined the association between football participation factors and self-reported cognitive and mental health among recently retired collegiate players.Methods
Participants in the Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium (n = 627; mean age = 25.0 ± 1.7) completed surveys across 26 United States universities (2014-2021) within 5 years of collegiate exit. Measures included Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders-Cognitive Domain (Neuro-QoL), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), SF-12 Mental Component Summary (MCS), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Univariate and multivariable regression models evaluated the effects of lifetime concussion history, playing position, and years of football participation on outcome scores. Proportions exceeding clinical score thresholds were also compared across exposure groups.Results
Per univariate analyses, participants reporting three or more concussions had significantly worse scores across all instruments than those without concussion history, and a higher proportion exceeded clinical thresholds for all measures except life satisfaction. In adjusted models, the 3+ concussion group endorsed higher PHQ-9 scores than the non-concussion group (B: 1.53, SE: 0.52, p = 0.014). An interaction between position and concussion was observed for Neuro-QoL scores, with agility players reporting lower scores than hybrid players in those with 1-2 concussions.Discussion
Greater lifetime concussion history was associated with poorer self-reported psychosocial health among recently retired collegiate football players. Targeted clinical screening and early intervention may benefit those with multiple concussions as they transition to post-athletic careers.
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BibTeX
@article{syrydiuk2026cognitive,
title = {{Cognitive and Mental Health in Recently Retired Collegiate Football Players: Findings from the CARE Consortium.}},
author = {Reid A Syrydiuk and Benjamin L Brett and Eleanna M L Varangis and Douglas J Wiebe and Paul F Pasquina and Michael A McCrea and Thomas W McAllister and Steven P Broglio and CARE Consortium Investigators},
journal = {Sports medicine - open},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1186/s40798-026-01126-6},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42911304},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Cognitive and Mental Health in Recently Retired Collegiate Football Players: Findings from the CARE Consortium.
AU - Reid A Syrydiuk
AU - Benjamin L Brett
AU - Eleanna M L Varangis
AU - Douglas J Wiebe
AU - Paul F Pasquina
AU - Michael A McCrea
AU - Thomas W McAllister
AU - Steven P Broglio
AU - CARE Consortium Investigators
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - Sports medicine - open
DO - 10.1186/s40798-026-01126-6
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42911304
AB - Background While long-term psychosocial health in football players has been extensively studied, little is known about cognitive and mental health during early sport retirement. This study examined the association between football participation factors and self-reported cognitive and mental health among recently retired collegiate players.Methods Participants in the Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium (n = 627; mean age = 25.0 ± 1.7) completed surveys across 26 United States universities (2014-2021) within 5 years of collegiate exit. Measures included Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders-Cognitive Domain (Neuro-QoL), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), SF-12 Mental Component Summary (MCS), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Univariate and multivariable regression models evaluated the effects of lifetime concussion history, playing position, and years of football participation on outcome scores. Proportions exceeding clinical score thresholds were also compared across exposure groups.Results Per univariate analyses, participants reporting three or more concussions had significantly worse scores across all instruments than those without concussion history, and a higher proportion exceeded clinical thresholds for all measures except life satisfaction. In adjusted models, the 3+ concussion group endorsed higher PHQ-9 scores than the non-concussion group (B: 1.53, SE: 0.52, p = 0.014). An interaction between position and concussion was observed for Neuro-QoL scores, with agility players reporting lower scores than hybrid players in those with 1-2 concussions.Discussion Greater lifetime concussion history was associated with poorer self-reported psychosocial health among recently retired collegiate football players. Targeted clinical screening and early intervention may benefit those with multiple concussions as they transition to post-athletic careers.
SN - 2199-1170
SN - 2198-9761
ER -