Comparing the Level of Psychological Stress and Well-Being Between Intercollegiate and Club Sports Athletes

Location

Memorial Ballroom, Hall Campus Center

Access Type

Open Access

Entry Number

12

Start Date

4-7-2021 12:00 PM

End Date

4-7-2021 1:15 PM

Department

Athletic Training

Abstract

Context: Elevated psychological stress paired with poor lifestyle choices can lead to an increase in injury risk and recovery time. Knowing the possible differences/similarities in these levels between intercollegiate and club sports athletes could better equip health professionals for the possible differences between the two groups of athletes.

Objective: To compare the level of psychological stress and well-being between intercollegiate and club sports athletes to better equip health professionals for the possible differences between the two groups of athletes.

Design: Prospective Cohort Study.

Setting: Online Survey.

Patients or Other Participants: Participants were 108 intercollegiate athletes that participated in NCAA Division III sports or club sports at the 20 NCAA Division III schools in Virginia.

Main Outcome Measure(s): The survey consisted of demographic information (eg, competitive setting, sport played) and 2 sections: (1) modified Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21) and (2) General Well-Being Schedule (GWBS).

Results: There were no significant differences in stress and well-being levels between NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletes and club sports athletes or comparing male athletes and female athletes (P > .05). Injured athletes reported higher stress levels and lower well-being levels when compared to non-injured athletes (P = .001).

Conclusions: Our findings suggested that stress and well-being levels do not contribute to a difference in injury risk between intercollegiate athletes and club sports athletes. Injured athletes reporting higher levels of stress and lower levels of well-being is likely related to the stress of not being able to participate at their desired performance level.

Key Words: injury risk, distress, anxiety, DASS-21, GWBS

Faculty Mentor(s)

Dr. Debbie A Bradney
Dr. Domenica Favero
Dr. Thomas G Bowman

Rights Statement

The right to download or print any portion of this material is granted by the copyright owner only for personal or educational use. The author/creator retains all proprietary rights, including copyright ownership. Any editing, other reproduction or other use of this material by any means requires the express written permission of the copyright owner. Except as provided above, or for any other use that is allowed by fair use (Title 17, §107 U.S.C.), you may not reproduce, republish, post, transmit or distribute any material from this web site in any physical or digital form without the permission of the copyright owner of the material.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 
Apr 7th, 12:00 PM Apr 7th, 1:15 PM

Comparing the Level of Psychological Stress and Well-Being Between Intercollegiate and Club Sports Athletes

Memorial Ballroom, Hall Campus Center

Context: Elevated psychological stress paired with poor lifestyle choices can lead to an increase in injury risk and recovery time. Knowing the possible differences/similarities in these levels between intercollegiate and club sports athletes could better equip health professionals for the possible differences between the two groups of athletes.

Objective: To compare the level of psychological stress and well-being between intercollegiate and club sports athletes to better equip health professionals for the possible differences between the two groups of athletes.

Design: Prospective Cohort Study.

Setting: Online Survey.

Patients or Other Participants: Participants were 108 intercollegiate athletes that participated in NCAA Division III sports or club sports at the 20 NCAA Division III schools in Virginia.

Main Outcome Measure(s): The survey consisted of demographic information (eg, competitive setting, sport played) and 2 sections: (1) modified Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21) and (2) General Well-Being Schedule (GWBS).

Results: There were no significant differences in stress and well-being levels between NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletes and club sports athletes or comparing male athletes and female athletes (P > .05). Injured athletes reported higher stress levels and lower well-being levels when compared to non-injured athletes (P = .001).

Conclusions: Our findings suggested that stress and well-being levels do not contribute to a difference in injury risk between intercollegiate athletes and club sports athletes. Injured athletes reporting higher levels of stress and lower levels of well-being is likely related to the stress of not being able to participate at their desired performance level.

Key Words: injury risk, distress, anxiety, DASS-21, GWBS