Research ArticleOpen AccessGoogle Scholar indexed
Stress of the Off-Season May Be Greater for the Student-Athlete than during Competition: A Pilot Study
Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, USA
Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, USA
Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, USA
- 1 Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, USA
- 2 Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, USA
- 3 Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, USA
Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science·Volume 07 (2017)·Pages 304–310·Published 12 July 2017·DOI10.4236/jbbs.2017.77022
Copy link · social · email
Abstract
We assessed 16 student-athletes in their first year of college on several dimensions, including severity of psychological and physical symptoms, mental health upset, academic concerns, suicidal tendencies, depressive outlook, anxiety and tension, attention difficulties, and alcohol abuse. We assessed half during their sports’ competition season and half during their off-season. Results pointed to increased perceived stress during the down time of off season. It may be that for student-athletes, the structure of competition season offsets the stress of competition, such that when the structure is removed or lessened, perceived stress increases. Implications of these data are discussed as well as plans for developing follow-up studies.
KeywordsCollege Student-AthletesAthletics and StressMillon College Counseling InventoryStudent-Athlete Adjustment
- Sime, W.E. (1987) Exercise in the Prevention and Treatment of Depression. In: Morgan, W.P. and Goldston, S.E., Eds., Exercise and Mental Health, Hemisphere Publishing, New York, 145-153.
- Schwenk, T.L. (2000) The Stigmatisation and Denial of Mental Illness in Athletes. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 34, 4-5. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.34.1.4
- Unwin, B.K., Goode, J., Reamy, B.V. and Quinlan, J. (2013) Care of the College Student. American Family Physician, 88, 596-607.
- Miller, B.E., Miller, M.N., Verhegge, R.., et al. (2002) Alcohol Misuse among College Athletes: Self-Medication for Psychiatric Symptoms? Journal of Drug Education, 32, 41-52. https://doi.org/10.2190/JDFM-AVAK-G9FV-0MYY
- Burton, R.W. (2000) Mental Illness in Athletes. In: Begel, D. and Barton, R.W., Eds., Sports Psychiatry, WW Norton and Company, Inc., New York, 61-81.
- Yang, J., Peek-Asa, C., Corlette, J.D., Cheng, G., Foster, D.T. and Albright, J. (2007) Prevalence of and Risk Factors Associated with Symptoms of Depression in Competitive Collegiate Student Athletes. Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, 17, 481-487. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0b013e31815aed6b
- Ruberman, L. (2014) Challenges in the Transition to College: The Perspective of the Therapist Back Home. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 68, 103-115.
- Kessler, R.C., McGonagle, K.A., Zhao, S., Nelson, C.B., Hughes, M., Eshleman, S., Wittchen, H.U. and Kendler, K.S. (1994) Lifetime and 12-Month Prevalence of DSM-III-R Psychiatric Disorders in the United States: Results from the National Comorbidity Study. Archives of General Psychiatry, 51, 8-19. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1994.03950010008002
- Kaier, E., DeMarni, C.L., Johnson, M.D., Strunk, K. and Davis, J.L. (2015) Perceptions of Mental Illness Stigma: Comparisons of Athletes to Non-Athlete Peers. Journal of College Student Development, 56, 735. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2015.0079
- Baker, R.W. and Nisenbaum, S. (1979) Lessons from an Attempt to Facilitate Freshman Transition into College. Journal of American College Health Association, 28, 79-81. https://doi.org/10.1080/01644300.1979.10392898
- Conley, C.S., Travers, L.V. and Bryant, F.B. (2013) Promoting Psychosocial Adjustment and Stress Management in First-Year College Students: The Benefits of Engagement in a Psychosocial Wellness Seminar. Journal of American College Health, 61, 75-86. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2012.754757