# Beyond the Handicap: A Cross-Sectional Study of Mental Health Amongst Registered Golfers in Spain

## TL;DR

This study found that most Spanish golfers report improved mental health from playing golf, with low prevalence of impaired mental health.

## Contribution

The study provides novel insights into the mental health benefits of golf among registered players in Spain.

## Key findings

- 73.5% of golfers reported improved mental health from playing golf.
- The prevalence of impaired mental health was 6.7% among participants.
- Younger golfers (<=45 years) had a significantly higher prevalence of impaired mental health (28.6%).

## Abstract

The prevalence of impaired mental health (MH) has increased in recent decades. The aim of the study was to analyze the prevalence of impaired MH amongst registered Spanish golfers using the GHQ-28 questionnaire. A cross-sectional online survey was carried out in Spain between March and August 2024 using a self-administered questionnaire on 298 adult participants. The participants were mainly men (75.1%) over 60 years of age (50.7%) who were married or with a partner (79.5%), and who were active in the job market (56%). Of the participants, 73.5% reported an improvement in MH levels attributed to the game, and 77.2% recommended golf as a way to improve MH. The prevalence of impaired MH was 6.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.1–10.2%). Differences in impaired MH were found according to age (<=45 years: 28.6%; 46–60 years: 5.0% and >60 years: 4.0%; p = 0.001), marital status (married or with a partner: 4.6% vs. other: 14.8%; p = 0.009) and time of play (morning: 3.3% vs. other: 10.3%; p = 0.015). The prevalence of impaired MH detected was low and these results indicated that such playing habits and characteristics may have a positive impact on the mental wellbeing of golf players.