The Collegiate Athlete Perspective on Return to Sport Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Assessment of Confidence, Stress, and Coping Strategies

Oscar Levine, Michael Terry and Vehniah Tjong
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Oscar Levine: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 North St. Clair Street, Suite 1350, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Michael Terry: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 North St. Clair Street, Suite 1350, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Vehniah Tjong: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 North St. Clair Street, Suite 1350, Chicago, IL 60611, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 11, 1-11

Abstract: (1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for college athletes as they return to sport and campus life. Emerging literature highlights some of these challenges, but no studies have used a primarily qualitative approach to assess the impact of the pandemic on college athletes. The purpose of this study was to better understand factors affecting college athletes’ return to sport and campus life amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with varsity athletes who participated in the 2020–2021 season at a single university. Qualitative analysis was performed using the Strauss and Corbin method to derive codes, categories, and themes. Additionally, Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 (ACSI-28) scores were recorded and analyzed using descriptive statistics. (3) Results: A total of 20 student athletes were interviewed, revealing that confidence and motivation, increased stress and anxiety, and adaptive coping strategies were common themes affecting their experiences returning to sport and campus life. Results from the ACSI-28 showed an average score of 49.5 and a range of 24–66. (4) Conclusions: Semi-structured interviews revealed factors impacting return to sport and student life. These findings can help inform how to better support college athletes throughout the remainder of the current pandemic and moving forward.

Keywords: COVID-19; student athletes; college; return to sport; confidence; mental health; stress; coping; qualitative; interview (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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