Table 3.
Key current physical health and fitness, mental health and social health characteristics of former player groups
| Elite rugby | Community rugby | Non-contact sport | Elite rugby versus community rugby | Elite rugby versus non-contact sport | Community rugby versus non-contact sport | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEALTH numeric variables | n | Mean (SD) | n | Mean (SD) | n | Mean (SD) | Cohen's d (95% confidence limits) | ||
| Overall health rating | 125 | 3.9 (0.8) | 254 | 3.8 (0.8) | 72 | 4.1 (0.9) | 0.1 (− 0.1 to 0.3) | − 0.2 (− 0.5 to 0.1) | − 0.4 (− 0.6 to − 0.2) |
| Physical health rating | 123 | 3.9 (0.9) | 248 | 3.8 (0.9) | 70 | 4.1 (0.8) | 0.1 (− 0.1 to 0.3) | − 0.2 (− 0.5 to 0.1) | − 0.3 (− 0.5 to − 0.0) |
| Physical fitness health rating | 123 | 3.5 (0.9) | 247 | 3.3 (0.9) | 71 | 3.5 (0.9) | 0.2 (0.0 to 0.4) | 0.0 (-0.3 to 0.3) | − 0.2 (− 0.4 to 0.0) |
| Diet/nutritional health rating | 123 | 3.6 (0.9) | 245 | 3.4 (0.9) | 71 | 3.7 (0.7) | 0.3 (0.0 to 0.5) | − 0.1 (− 0.4 to 0.2) | − 0.3 (− 0.6 to − 0.1) |
| Mental/psychological health rating | 123 | 3.9 (0.9) | 248 | 3.8 (0.9) | 69 | 4.0 (0.8) | 0.1 (− 0.1 to 0.3) | − 0.1 (− 0.4 to 0.2) | − 0.2 (− 0.4 to 0.0) |
| Exercise intensity | 124 | 6.1 (2.3) | 264 | 5.3 (2.5) | 72 | 6.2 (2.3) | 0.3 (0.1 to 0.5) | − 0.0 (− 0.3 to 0.3) | − 0.3 (− 0.6 to − 0.1) |
| HEALTH percentage variables | n | % | n | % | n | % | Relative percentage (95% confidence limits) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular disease | 127 | 2.4 | 271 | 0.7 | 72 | 2.8 | 3.2 (0.5 to 18.9) | 0.9 (0.2 to 5.0) | 0.3 (0.0 to 1.9) |
| Anxiety | 127 | 4.7 | 271 | 7.7 | 72 | 6.9 | 0.6 (0.3 to 1.5) | 0.7 (0.2 to 2.2) | 1.1 (0.4 to 2.9) |
| Osteoarthritis | 127 | 37 | 271 | 18.1 | 72 | 5.6 | 2.0 (1.4 to 2.8) | 6.5 (2.4 to 17.4) | 3.3 (1.2 to 8.7) |
| Chronic fatigue | 127 | 0 | 271 | 3.3 | 72 | 2.8 | 1.2 (0.3 to 5.4) | ||
| Depression | 127 | 11 | 271 | 10 | 72 | 12.5 | 1.1 (0.6 to 2.0) | 0.9 (0.4 to 1.9) | 0.8 (0.4 to 1.6) |
| Diabetes | 127 | 2.4 | 271 | 3.3 | 72 | 2.8 | 0.7 (0.2 to 2.6) | 0.9 (0.2 to 5.0) | 1.2 (0.3 to 5.4) |
| High blood pressure | 127 | 14.2 | 271 | 9.2 | 72 | 5.6 | 1.5 (0.9 to 2.7) | 2.6 (0.9 to 7.3) | 1.7 (0.6 to 4.6) |
| High cholesterol | 127 | 16.5 | 271 | 15.1 | 72 | 16.7 | 1.1 (0.7 to 1.8) | 1.0 (0.5 to 1.9) | 0.9 (0.5 to 1.6) |
| Regular headaches/migraines | 127 | 11 | 271 | 12.9 | 72 | 11.1 | 0.9 (0.5 to 1.5) | 1.0 (0.4 to 2.3) | 1.2 (0.6 to 2.4) |
| AUDIT Score ≥ 8 (hazardous drinking) | 123 | 38 | 253 | 40 | 72 | 25 | 1.0 (0.7 to 1.2) | 1.5 (1.0 to 2.4) | 1.6 (1.1 to 2.5) |
| Current tobacco use | 124 | 6.5 | 252 | 9.9 | 72 | 9.7 | 0.7 (0.3 to 1.4) | 0.7 (0.3 to 1.8) | 1.0 (0.5 to 2.3) |
| Any use of cannabis (lifetime) | 122 | 34 | 245 | 44 | 70 | 43 | 0.8 (0.6 to 1.0) | 0.8 (0.6 to 1.2) | 1.0 (0.8 to 1.4) |
| Any use of other illegal recreational drugs (lifetime) | 127 | 29 | 271 | 26 | 72 | 29 | 1.1 (0.8 to 1.6) | 1.0 (0.6 to 1.6) | 0.9 (0.6 to 1.3) |
| MOOD numeric variables | n | Mean (SD) | n | Mean (SD) | n | Mean (SD) | Cohen's d (95% confidence limits) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative affect | 123 | 17.3 (10.8) | 243 | 17.8 (9.6) | 70 | 19.4 (9.3) | − 0.1 (− 0.3 to 0.2) | − 0.1 (− 0.4 to 0.2) | − 0.2 (− 0.5 to 0.1) |
| Spielberger anger in | 122 | 14.3 (3.3) | 246 | 14.8 (3.7) | 70 | 14.0 (3.3) | − 0.2 (− 0.4 to 0.0) | − 0.1 (− 0.2 to 0.4) | 0.2 (− 0.0 to 0.5) |
| Spielberger anger out | 122 | 12.6 (2.8) | 246 | 12.7 (2.9) | 70 | 12.4 (3.3) | − 0.1 (− 0.3 to 0.1) | 0.0 (− 0.2 to 0.3) | 0.1 (− 0.1 to 0.3) |
| ALCOHOL USE numeric variables | n | Mean (SD) | n | Mean (SD) | n | Mean (SD) | Cohen's d (95% confidence limits) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUDIT Consumption | 123 | 4.7 (2.5) | 253 | 5.1 (2.3) | 72 | 4.7 (2.4) | − 0.2 (− 0.4 to 0.0) | 0.0 (− 0.3 to 0.3) | 0.2 (− 0.0 to 0.4) |
| AUDIT Dependence | 123 | 0.4 (0.7) | 252 | 0.5 (0.9) | 72 | 0.3 (0.9) | − 0.2 (− 0.4 to 0.0) | 0.1 (− 0.2 to 0.4) | 0.2 (− 0.1 to 0.4) |
| AUDIT Problems | 123 | 1.5 (2.0) | 253 | 1.7 (2.4) | 72 | 1.1 (1.8) | − 0.1 (− 0.3 to 0.1) | 0.2 (0.0 to 0.5) | 0.3 (0.1 to 0.5) |
| AUDIT Sum | 123 | 6.5 (4.3) | 253 | 7.4 (4.5) | 72 | 6.1 (4.1) | − 0.2 (− 0.4 to 0.0) | 0.1 (− 0.2 to 0.4) | 0.3 (0.1 to 0.5) |
Data are reported as mean ± standard deviation or a percentage (%) of participants as indicated. We have bolded standardised differences in means that are > 0.6 (moderate effects or greater) and relative percentages that are > 1.43 or < 0.7 (at least a moderate difference between groups) for which the confidence intervals did not include a standardised mean difference of zero or a relative percentage of 1.0
The n is shown for the total group numbers who answered the question
AUDIT Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, SD standard deviation