Abstract
We consider the impact of stress on anxiety and physical activity amongst athletes. This cross-sectional study was conducted among football-code athletes and was carried out between June to July 2020, during Stage 3 restrictions. There was a total of 69 athletes who completed the questionnaire that comprised of multiple-choice questions, Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The majority of participants were aged between 18-27 (74%). Participants were mostly ranked as having minimal anxiety (68%) while none had severe anxiety. The prevalence of clinically significant anxiety amongst participants was 12%. Most of our participants achieved more than 600 METS per week (87%). Females were more anxious [M: 8.5, SD: 7.1, p: 0.004] than their male counterparts [M: 4.1, SD: 5.1, p: 0.004]. Participants with pre-existing mental health conditions were also reported to be more anxious [M: 16.3, SD: 8.0, p < 0.001]. The rate of clinically significant anxiety among athletes did not increase with stress, even as it rose in the general population. Athletes demonstrated resilience in managing stress while maintaining physical activity. The results suggest that females and pre-existing mental health conditions are both predictive factors for anxiety in young and fit individuals. Early screening of these potential predictive factors could prompt early identification of high-risk individuals to provide early support and intervention. However, further research is needed to determine its role in clinical practice.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Stress, Anxiety, Physical Activity, Athletes
