Nov 12, 2013 01:23 PM EST By Jaleesa Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

College athletes may be at an increased risk for depression today, far more than retired collegiate athletes, according to a study the Huffington Post reported.

A study, conducted by the Georgetown University Medical Center and published earlier this year by Sports Health, revealed that depression levels were twice as high in current athletes compared to former college athletes years ago.

"We expected to see a significant increase in depression once athletes graduated, but by comparison it appears the stress of intercollegiate athletics may be more significant than we and others anticipated," Daniel Merenstein, lead researcher, said in a statement.

The researchers sent surveys to 663 athletes; 163 former and 117 current athletes from nine different universities took part in the study. All had participated in Division I NCAA sponsored sports. Graduated athletes represented 15 different sports and current athletes represented 10.

The analysis of the survey responses revealed that nearly 17 percent of current college athletes had scores consistent with depression; more than double that of retired athletes at eight percent.

Overtraining, pressures to perform, lack of free time or stress from schoolwork are ultimately the reasons for the increased risk for depression in students.

"College in general is a potentially stressful time for many students," Merenstein said in a statement. "The additional stress of playing high-level sports appears to add to that stress." 

What they found was contradictory to their original hypothesis which was retired collegiate athletes would be at a higher risk for depression due to changes in lifestyle and loss of personal identity.

"College athletes often derive their personal identity from their sport, focusing a lot of their time on athletics in college," the study authors wrote. "They are often surrounded by other athletes and frequently have an athletic identity from their peers who recognize them on campus as an athlete."

Researchers also pointed out that their hypothesis was based on the fact  that after college athletics, there is a loss of social support from teammates, coaches and advisors, and that former athletes may not maintain peak physical condition- all possible factors for depression.

Merenstein advises parents, friends and coaches to be aware of changes in behavior, weight and sleep of college athletes, and of all students.

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