“My Life Sucks Right Now”: Student-Athletes’ Pandemic-Related Experiences With Screen Time and Mental Health

in The Sport Psychologist

Click name to view affiliation

Martin Camiré University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Search for other papers by Martin Camiré in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
*
,
Camille Sabourin University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Search for other papers by Camille Sabourin in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Eden Gladstone Martin University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Search for other papers by Eden Gladstone Martin in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Laura Martin University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Search for other papers by Laura Martin in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
Nicolas Lowe University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Search for other papers by Nicolas Lowe in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2022-0067
Keywords:
COVID-19; adolescent; youth; isolation
First Published Online:
22 Oct 2022
In Print:
Volume 36: Issue 4
Page Range:
251–261
Restricted access

The COVID-19 pandemic, and associated stay-at-home orders, instigated far-reaching disturbances in the lives of student-athletes, which included school closures and sport cancellations. The purpose of the study was to examine first-hand student-athletes’ pandemic-related experiences with screen time and mental health. A total of 22 Canadian high school student-athletes were individually interviewed in 2021. Interviews occurred online via videoconferencing and were subjected to a reflexive thematic analysis, which led to the creation of three themes: (a) pandemic life is a major grind, (b) screen time during COVID times: I feel guilty, but what else can I do? and (c) mental health during COVID times: mostly pain, but there is a silver lining. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for research and practice as it pertains to formulating endemic initiatives best supporting the many student-athletes confronting the psychosocial aftereffects of having lived through a global pandemic.

Camiré (mcamire@uottawa.ca) is corresponding author, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5978-9892

Supplementary Materials

    • Supplementary Material (PDF 410 KB)
  • Collapse
  • Expand

The Sport Psychologist

Cover The Sport Psychologist

  • Abid, R., Ammar, A., Maaloul, R., Souissi, N., & Hammouda, O. (2021). Effects of COVID-19-related home confinement on sleep quality, screen time and physical activity in Tunisian boys and girls: A survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063065

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Aknin, L.B., De Neve, J.-E., Dunn, E.W., Fancourt, D.E., Goldberg, E., Helliwell, J.F., Jones, S.P., Karam, E., Layard, R., Lyubomirsky, S., VanderWeele, T.J., Whillans, A.V., Zaki, J., Karadag, O., & Ben Amor, Y. (2022). Mental health during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: A review and recommendations moving forward. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 17(4), 915–936. https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916211029964

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Allen, K.A., & Kern, M.L. (2017). School belonging in adolescents: Theory, research and practice. Springer.

  • Babic, M.J., Smith, J.J., Morgan, P.J., Eather, N., Plotnikoff, R.C., & Lubans, D.R. (2017). Longitudinal associations between changes in screen-time and mental health outcomes in adolescents. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 12, 124–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2017.04.001

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Branquinho, C., Kelly, C., Arevalo, L.C., Santos, A., & Gaspar de Matos, M. (2020). “Hey, we also have something to say”: A qualitative study of Portuguese adolescents’ and young people’s experiences under COVID-19. Journal of Community Psychology, 48(8), 2740–2752. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22453

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 589–597. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628806

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). One size fits all? What counts as quality practice in (reflexive) thematic analysis? Qualitative Research in Psychology, 18(3), 328–352. https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2020.1769238

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Breslin, G., Shannon, S., Haughey, T., Donnelly, P., & Leavey, G. (2017). A systematic review of interventions to increase awareness of mental health and well-being in athletes, coaches and officials. Systematic Reviews, 6(1), 177. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-017-0568-6

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Brown, S.L., Nobiling, B.D., Teufel, B., & Birch, D.A. (2011). Are kids too busy? Early adolescents’ perceptions of discretionary activities, overscheduling, and stress. Journal of School Health, 81(9), 574–580. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2011.00629.x

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Camiré, M., Rathwell, S., Turgeon, S., & Kendellen, K. (2019). Coach-athlete relationships, basic psychological needs satisfaction and thwarting, and the teaching of life skills in Canadian high school sport. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 14(5), 591–606. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954119869542

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Camiré, M., & Santos, F. (2019). Promoting positive youth development and life skills in youth sport: Challenges and opportunities amidst increased professionalization. Journal of Sport Pedagogy and Research, 5(1), 27–34.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. (2021). Ontario students should return to class barring catastrophe, report says. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/report-recommends-full-return-in-person-classes-1.6108140

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. (2021). Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines for children and youth (ages 5–17 years): An integration of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep. https://csepguidelines.ca/children-and-youth-5-17/

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Carless, D., & Douglas, K. (2010). Sport and physical activity for mental health. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444324945

  • Cellini, N., Canale, N., Mioni, G., & Costa, S. (2020). Changes in sleep pattern, sense of time and digital media use during COVID‐19 lockdown in Italy. Journal of Sleep Research, 29(4), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13074

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Cherry, M., Taylor, P., Brown, S., Rigby, J., & Sellwood, W. (2017). Guilt, shame and expressed emotion in carers of people with long-term mental health difficulties: A systematic review. Psychiatry Research, 249, 139–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2016.12.056

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Domingues‐Montanari, S. (2017). Clinical and psychological effects of excessive screen time on children. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 53(4), 333–338. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.13462

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Dorsch, T.E., Smith, A.L., Blazo, J.A., Coakley, J., Côté, J., Wagstaff, C.R.D., Warner, S., & King, M.Q. (2022). Toward an integrated understanding of the youth sport system. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 93(1), 105–119. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2020.1810847

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Dutta, K., Mukherjee, R., Sen, D., & Sahu, S. (2022). Effect of COVID-19 lockdown on sleep behavior and screen exposure time: An observational study among Indian school children. Biological Rhythm Research, 53(4), 628–639. https://doi.org/10.1080/09291016.2020.1825284

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Elliott, S., Drummond, M.J., Prichard, I., Eime, R., Drummond, C., & Mason, R. (2021). Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on youth sport in Australia and consequences for future participation and retention. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 448. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10505-5

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Holuka, C., Merz, M.P., Fernandes, S.B., Charalambous, E.G., Seal, S.V., Grova, N., & Turner, J.D. (2020). The COVID-19 pandemic: Does our life environment, life trajectory and socioeconomic status determine disease susceptibility and severity? International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(14), 5094. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21145094

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jewett, R., Sabiston, C.M., Brunet, J., O’Loughlin, E.K., Scarapicchia, T., & O’Loughlin, J. (2014). School sport participation during adolescence and mental health in early adulthood. Journal of Adolescent Health, 55(5), 640–644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.04.018

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kendellen, K., & Camiré, M. (2020). Going beyond the interview: Methodological considerations for “getting at” life skills transfer using a longitudinal integrated qualitative approach. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise, and Health, 12(1), 91–107. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1593231

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Keyes, C. (2006). Mental health in adolescence: Is America’s youth flourishing? American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 76(3), 395–402. https://doi.org/10.1037/0002-9432.76.3.395

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kumar, A., & Rajasekharan Nayar, K. (2021). COVID 19 and its mental health consequences. Journal of Mental Health, 30(1), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2020.1757052

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Majumdar, P., Biswas, A., & Sahu, S. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown: Cause of sleep disruption, depression, somatic pain, and increased screen exposure of office workers and students of India. Chronobiology International, 37(8), 1191–1200. https://doi.org/10.1080/07420528.2020.1786107

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • McGuine, T.A., Biese, K.M., Petrovska, L., Hetzel, S.J., Reardon, C., Kliethermes, S., Bell, D.R., Brooks, A., & Watson, A.M. (2021). Mental health, physical activity, and quality of life of US adolescent athletes during COVID-19-related school closures and sport cancellations: A study of 13, 000 athletes. Journal of Athletic Training, 56(1), 11–19. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0478.20

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Moon, J., Williford, A., & Mendenhall, A. (2017). Educators’ perceptions of youth mental health: Implications for training and the promotion of mental health services in schools. Children and Youth Services Review, 73, 384–391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.01.006

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Moore, S.A., Faulkner, G., Rhodes, R.E., Brussoni, M., Chulak-Bozzer, T., Ferguson, L.J., Mitra, R., O’Reilly, N., Spence, J.C., Vanderloo, L.M., & Tremblay, M.S. (2020). Impact of the COVID-19 virus outbreak on movement and play behaviours of Canadian children and youth: A national survey. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 17(1), 85. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-020-00987-8

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mutz, M., & Gerke, M. (2021). Sport and exercise in times of self-quarantine: How Germans changed their behaviour at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 56(3), 305–316. https://doi.org/10.1177/1012690220934335

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ogden, T., & Amlund Hagen, K. (2018). Adolescent mental health: Prevention and intervention (2nd ed.). Routledge.

  • Pfefferbaum, B., & North, C.S. (2020). Mental health and the COVID-19 pandemic. New England Journal of Medicine, 383(6), 510–512. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp2008017

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Reinecke, L., & Meier, A. (2020). Guilt and media use. In J. Van den Bulck (Ed.), The international encyclopedia of media psychology (pp. 1–5). Wiley Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119011071.iemp0183

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Rodriguez-Ayllon, M., Cadenas-Sánchez, C., Estévez-López, F., Muñoz, N.E., Mora-Gonzalez, J., Migueles, J., Molina-García, P., Henriksson, H., Mena-Molina, A., Martínez-Vizcaíno, V., Catena, A., Löf, M., Erickson, K.I., Lubans, D.R., Ortega, F.B., & Esteban-Cornejo, I. (2019). Role of physical activity and sedentary behavior in the mental health of preschoolers, children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 49(1), 1383–1410. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-019-01099-5

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ronkainen, N., Aggerholm, K., Ryba, T., & Allen-Collinson, J. (2021). Learning in sport: From life skills to existential learning. Sport, Education and Society, 26(2), 214–227. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2020.1712655

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Sañudo, B., Fennell, C., & Sánchez-Oliver, A.J. (2020). Objectively-assessed physical activity, sedentary behavior, smartphone use, and sleep patterns pre-and during-COVID-19 quarantine in young adults from Spain. Sustainability, 12(15), 5890. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12155890

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • School Sport Canada. (2020). About school sport Canada. http://www.schoolsport.ca

  • Smith, B. (2018). Generalizability in qualitative research: Misunderstandings, opportunities and recommendations for the sport and exercise sciences. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 10(1), 137–149. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2017.1393221

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Smith, B., & McGannon, K.R. (2018). Developing rigor in qualitative research: Problems and opportunities within sport and exercise psychology. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 11(1), 101–121. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2017.1317357

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Twenge, J.M., & Campbell, W.K. (2018). Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Preventive Medicine Reports, 12, 271–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.10.003

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Twenge, J.M., & Farley, E. (2021). Not all screen time is created equal: Associations with mental health vary by activity and gender. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 56, 207–217. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-020-01906-9

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Vella, S. (2019). Mental health and organized youth sport. Kinesiology Review, 8(3), 229–236. https://doi.org/10.1123/kr.2019-0025

  • Vella, S.A., Schweickle, M.J., Sutcliffe, J.T., & Swann, C. (2021). A systematic review and meta-synthesis of mental health position statements in sport: Scope, quality and future directions. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 55(4), Article 101946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.101946

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Walsh, F. (2020). Loss and resilience in the time of COVID-19: Meaning making, hope, and transcendence. Family Process, 59(3), 898–911. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12588

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Whitley, M.A., Smith, A.L., Dorsch, T.E., Bowers, M.T., & Centeio, E.E. (2021). Reenvisioning postpandemic youth sport to meet young people’s mental, emotional, and social needs. Translational Journal of the ACSM, 6(4), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1249/TJX.0000000000000177

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • World Health Organization. (2013). Mental health action plan 2013–2020. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241506021

  • World Health Organization. (2018). Mental health: Strengthening our response. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-ourresponse

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • World Health Organization. (2020). WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19-11 March 2020. https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 1404 1255 49
Full Text Views 150 143 14
PDF Downloads 189 178 17