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80% of the population will suffer from clinical depression. Relationship demands, mental health problems, workrelated pressures are common causes of stress. Microstressors may have a greater overall impact on the well-being of an athlete.
80% of the population will suffer from clinical depression. Relationship demands, mental health problems, workrelated pressures are common causes of stress. Microstressors may have a greater overall impact on the well-being of an athlete.
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80% of the population will suffer from clinical depression. Relationship demands, mental health problems, workrelated pressures are common causes of stress. Microstressors may have a greater overall impact on the well-being of an athlete.
Droits d'auteur :
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Formats disponibles
Téléchargez comme PDF, TXT ou lisez en ligne sur Scribd
SPORT PSYCHOLOGY & COUNSELING Adam Naylor, EdD, Report Editor
Impact of Life Stressors on Athletes
Joseph L. Spano, MA • Manchester Athletic Club
P SYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS play an impor-
tant role in the occurrence of injury and recovery from injury.1 After having made progress in regaining functional capabili- Table 1. Symptoms of Stress Physiological Symptoms Upset stomach Psychological Symptoms Insomnia ties, some athletes face serious problems Headache Anxiety in returning to full sport participation. An athlete Sweaty palms Impatience may exhibit signs of reinjury, injury to some other Nervous habits Anger body part, decreased self-confidence or fear/anxiety Lack of energy Irritability about the possibility of reinjury.2 Social support may be particularly important to injured athletes who are motivated by peer acceptance and praise from fans competitive environment. The athlete who has been and media. exposed to a number of microstressors may exhibit An athlete’s injury-related anxiety may be com- both physical and cognitive performance deficiencies.5 pounded by life stressors. At some point in life, 80% Microstressors may present an obstacle to recovery of of the population will suffer from clinical depression.3 pre-injury performances levels. Effective time man- Relationship demands, mental health problems, work- agement becomes difficult when exposed to a high related pressures, traffic, and deadlines are common level of stress, which may interfere with rehabilitation causes of stress. Some stressors relate to major life compliance. changes, such as losing a loved one, moving to a dif- Many coaches promote the idea that athletes ferent town, getting married, experiencing a change should forget about everything other than competi- in economic status, etc. Any of these events can tion when on the field. Athletes who are experiencing create strong physical and psychological responses. moderate to major life stress may not be capable of Athletes face additional stressors, such as maintaining staying exclusively focused on sport-related concerns. a starting position, meeting performance goals, and Sport participation and non-sport life activities may fulfilling academic requirements. An athlete’s overall be addressed by coaches as separate entities, but life stress may be exhibited through physiological or athletes cannot ignore life problems. Social support is psychological manifestations (Table 1). A high level of a key factor that helps athletes manage stress, which stress may be associated with elevated blood pressure, may counteract an adverse effect of stress on injury muscle tension, early onset of fatigue, or susceptibility susceptibility.5 The athletic trainer is in a unique posi- to illness. Athletes with a high level of life stress may tion to provide much needed social support to injured experience more injuries than those with less stress,4 athletes. During the process of providing injury care, and post-injury rehabilitation may be prolonged. there are many opportunities for listening to athletes’ Microstressors or “daily hassles” may have a comments about life stresses and to suggest strategies greater overall impact on the well-being of an athlete for stress management. than major life stressors that occur less frequently. The A high level of stress may be recognized as stiff impact of microstressors may be magnified in a highly body language, extreme mood swings, persistent anger,
Athletic Therapy Today march 2008 41 or a short temper. Other subtle indicators might include Conclusion lack of effort, showing up late for appointments, or inappropriate comments. Stressors can be identified Many athletes feel tremendous pressure to perform to through creation of an open dialogue with an injured perfection, while also being subjected to life stressors. athlete. Asking questions about life activities builds Stress can adversely affect compliance with injury rapport that may reveal issues interfering with rehabili- rehabilitation, thereby delaying restoration of normal tation. This can be accomplished by asking a question physical capabilities. Athletic trainers and therapists are as simple as “How is school going?” or “What’s new?” in a unique position to recognize the manifestations or more personal questions like “How have you been of a high level of stress in individual athletes and to handling your car problem?” and “Do you feel that your initiate appropriate actions to address it. injury is improving?” Listening carefully to the athlete’s responses can provide insights that will build a closer References personal relationship, which can provide the athlete 1. Brewer B. Developmental Differences in Psychological Aspects of with a strong sense of social support. Sport-Injury Rehabilitation. 2003. Available at: http://www.pubcentral. Stress management can be integrated into an ath- nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=164904. Accessed November 14, 2006. lete’s rehabilitation program. Appropriate goal-setting 2. Armatas V, Chondrou E, Yiannakos A, Galazoulas Ch, Velkopoulos (i.e., milestones in recovery), time management, and C. Psychological aspects of rehabilitation following serious athletic relaxation skills can reduce stress during the recovery injuries with special reference to goal setting: A review study. 2007. Available at: http://ejmas.com/pt/2007pt/ptart_galazoulas_0707.html. process. Another important stress management consid- Accessed July 12, 2007. eration is the injured athlete’s perception of remaining 3. Dobson KS. The relationship between anxiety and depression. Clin part of the team, which should be promoted through Psychol Rev. 1985;5:307-324. attendance at team meetings, practice sessions, and 4. Crust L. Psychological rehabilitation techniques- what psychological rehabilitation techniques work best in getting an athlete back to full games. Rehabilitation sessions that are conducted in activity after injury. 2006. Available at: http://www.sportsinjurybulle- close proximity to practice sessions can simultaneously tin.com/archive/psychological-rehabilitation.html. Accessed November 14, 2006. help to maintain a sense of connection to the team and 5. Patterson EL, Smith RE, Everett JJ, Ptacek JT. (1998). Psychosocial adherence to a regular schedule that reinforces time factors as predictors of ballet injuries: interactive effects of life stress management skills. and social support. J Sport Beh. 1998; 21(1).
Joseph L. Spano attended Boston University School of Medicine for
his Masters degree in Mental Health and Behavioral Medicine. He is the Sport Psychology Consultant for the Manchester Athletic Club and MAC/Bolletieri Tennis Academy in Manchester, Massachusetts.