The Impact of COVID-19 on High School Student-Athlete Experiences with Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Social Connection

Heather A. Shepherd, Taffin Evans, Srijal Gupta, Meghan H. McDonough, Patricia Doyle-Baker, Kathy L. Belton, Shazya Karmali, Samantha Pawer, Gabrielle Hadly, Ian Pike, Stephanie A. Adams, Shelina Babul, Keith Owen Yeates, Daniel C. Kopala-Sibley, Kathryn J. Schneider, Stephanie Cowle, Pamela Fuselli, Carolyn A. Emery and Amanda M. Black
Additional contact information
Heather A. Shepherd: Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Taffin Evans: Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Srijal Gupta: Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Meghan H. McDonough: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Patricia Doyle-Baker: Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Kathy L. Belton: Injury Prevention Centre, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
Shazya Karmali: BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada
Samantha Pawer: BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada
Gabrielle Hadly: BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada
Ian Pike: BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada
Stephanie A. Adams: Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Shelina Babul: BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada
Keith Owen Yeates: Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Daniel C. Kopala-Sibley: Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Kathryn J. Schneider: Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Stephanie Cowle: Parachute, Toronto, ON M4P 1E8, Canada
Pamela Fuselli: Parachute, Toronto, ON M4P 1E8, Canada
Carolyn A. Emery: Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Amanda M. Black: Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-14

Abstract: COVID-19 restrictions led to reduced levels of physical activity, increased screen usage, and declines in mental health in youth; however, in-depth understandings of the experiences of high school student-athletes have yet to be explored. To describe the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic on student-athletes’ physical activity, social connection, and mental health, 20 high school student-athletes living in Calgary, Alberta participated in semi-structured interviews, designed using phenomenography. Participants reported variations in physical activity, social connections, and mental health which were influenced by stay-at-home restrictions and weather. Access to resources, changes to routines, online classes, and social support all influenced engagement in physical activity. School and sports provided opportunities for in-person social connections, impacted by the onset of the pandemic. Participants reported their mental health was influenced by social connections, online classes, and physical activity. Findings from this study will inform the development of resources for high school student-athletes amidst COVID-19.

Keywords: physical activity; mental health; social connection; youth-athletes; COVID-19; pandemic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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