Factors associated with anxiety among Division III student-athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study
The Sport Journal
; 26(3), 2023.
Article
in English
| CAB Abstracts | ID: covidwho-2292581
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the lives of collegiate student-athletes due to canceled sports seasons. This led to an increase in anxiety symptoms among Division III student-athletes. Collegiate female student-athletes have reported increased anxiety during the pandemic, but it is unknown if individualized or team sport athletes have similar anxiety symptoms. The purpose of this study is to determine the association between anxiety symptoms, gender, and sport-type of Division III student-athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Qualtrics survey assessed demographic information, concerns and worries surrounding the pandemic, and generalized anxiety symptoms using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7). Participants were male and female Division III collegiate student-athletes in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) during the 2020-2021 fall, winter, and spring sports-seasons. They were categorized as either an individual athlete or a team sport athlete. Chi-square analyses and prevalence ratios were conducted on SPSS version 27. There were significant differences between male and female GAD-7 responses X2= 30.119 (df=3, n=435), p=.000. There were no significant differences between non-gender specific sport-type athletes and anxiety. Female individual sport athletes were three times more likely to report mild-severe anxiety symptoms than female team sport athletes (PR=3.2, 95% CI, 1.66-6.16, p=0.000). In conclusion, female individual sport athletes were at greater risk for reporting anxiety symptoms compared to female team sport athletes, male individual sport athletes, and male team sport athletes. The application of sports is that associated colleges need to provide additional assistance in counseling, telehealth, and social support to collegiate student-athletes to help lessen the mental distress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Non-communicable Human Diseases and Injuries [VV600]; Social Psychology and Social Anthropology [UU485]; Sport and Recreational Activities [UU625]; Women [UU500]; anxiety; athletes; mental stress; mental health; sport; cross-sectional studies; gender relations; USA; APEC countries; high income countries; North America; America; OECD Countries; very high Human Development Index countries; United States of America; psychological stress
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Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
CAB Abstracts
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Language:
English
Journal:
The Sport Journal
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
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