Mental Health in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Impact on Well-Being Across the Athlete-Collegiate Career

in Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology

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David P. Schary Winthrop University

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Carolina Lundqvist Linköping University

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2021-0041
Keywords:
anxiety; depression; positive psychology; student-athlete; quality of life
First Published Online:
21 Jul 2021
In Print:
Volume 15: Issue 3
Page Range:
249–267
Restricted access

In reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictive policies altered student-athletes’ academic and athletic life. Sparse research has investigated the pandemic’s effect on student-athlete mental health in terms of both negative (e.g., depression, anxiety) and positive (e.g., well-being, quality of life) dimensions. This study explored the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on well-being and quality of life among National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I student-athletes at different stages of their collegiate career. Ninety-nine student-athletes (Mage = 19.7 years, SD = 1.5) completed assessments on their mental health. Regression analysis revealed experiences directly related to COVID-19 did not affect general well-being or quality of life, but anxiety, depression, and significant insomnia did. Social well-being was lower for student-athletes closer to graduation (e.g., juniors, seniors), independent of reported anxiety and depression levels. These findings highlight the importance of psychosocial support, particularly in times of crisis, and indicate that tailored support might be beneficial at later stages of the collegiate years.

Schary is with the Department of Physical Education, Sport and Human Performance, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC, USA. Lundqvist is with the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linkoping, Östergötland, Sweden.

Schary (scharyd@winthrop.edu) is corresponding author.
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