ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses empirical research findings regarding the mental health of circus artists. First, it sheds light on circus artists’ experiences of emotional states of depression, anxiety, and stress. Then, the prevalence of disordered eating among circus artists is described. Following this, several factors that predict emotional states of depression, anxiety, stress, and disordered eating are discussed. These include psychological resilience, circus-specific factors, and demographic factors. Then, psychological predictors of injuries, and the mental health consequences of injuries are discussed. Finally, this chapter explains the potential benefits of (social) circus for the mental health of recreational circus artists.
