Editorial: Mental health in recreational and elite sports

Mental health in sport has emerged as a central concern in contemporary research, reflecting the growing recognition that psychological well-being is a fundamental component of both athletic development and performance. Athletes across all levels and ages face a complex interplay of psychological, social, and physiological demands that influence their mental health trajectories. The aim of this Research Topic was to consolidate current empirical and theoretical contributions that deepen our understanding of these dynamics, while also identifying effective strategies for prevention, intervention, and support across diverse sporting populations. The Topic brings together studies that collectively highlight not only the prevalence and multifaceted nature of mental health challenges in sport, but also the expanding evidence-base for targeted psychological approaches designed to enhance performance, and overall wellbeing.The articles accepted in this Topic can be organized into four overarching thematic categories: investigations of the relationship between physical activity and mental health, analyses of the distinctive psychological demands faced by elite athletes, examinations of mental health challenges among student athletes, and evaluations of psychological interventions aimed at promoting athlete mental health.Chang (2025) examined 903 Chinese international students in South Korea and found that physical activity was negatively associated with depression and positively related to selfefficacy, which partially mediated this relationship, while social support further moderated the effects of physical activity on depression. Similarly, Wang et al. (2025) reported high heterogeneity in depression-related outcomes, influenced by factors such as age, frequency, duration, and exercise period, yet their subgroup analyses consistently showed that physical exercise is associated with improvements in depressive symptoms, although does not reduce