The Efficacy Of A Mental Skills Training Course For Collegiate Athletes

Abstract

Within college athletics athletes experience many stressors that can lead to mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression. Previous studies have shown that student athletes report higher levels of stress compared to a non-athletes PURPOSE: To compare stress levels and coping strategies among Division II collegiate athletes. METHODS: Subjects were NCAA Division II student athletes at East Stroudsburg University. Prior to the start of each season, subjects were briefed on the survey and told that they will receive it within a week of the end of competitive season. The survey link was dispersed via email from their head athletic coaches; the survey was completed using Google Forms. The survey included demographic information, a perceived stress questionnaire, and a question regarding coping strategies. Data is reported as mean±SD. Data was analyzed using paired-sample t-tests. Significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Subjects included individual sport athletes (n=46; cross-country, swimming, track and field) and team sport athletes (n=25; baseball and lacrosse), both male (n=29) and female (n=42). Perceived stress was significantly higher in females (17.76±7.1) compared to males (13.24±5.8, p<0.001). Females (57%) were more likely than males (42%) to use venting as a coping mechanism, trending toward significance (p=0.06). There were no differences between males and females use of disengagement (29% vs 25%; p=0.45) , denial (5% vs 0%, p=0.16), turning to religion (14% vs 33%, p=0.19), suppression activities (29% vs 42%, p=0.61), planning (45% vs 38%, p=0.23), emotion-focused activities (26 vs. 21%, p=0.34) or acceptance (43% vs 63%, p=0.47). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate female athletes have higher levels of perceived stress compared to male athletes. Further, females may use venting as a coping mechanism more frequently than males. It doesn't appear that the likelihood of using other coping techniques differs between males and females.