Personality characteristics and competitive anxiety in individual and team athletes

The purposes of this study were to investigate differences in personality and competitive anxiety depending on types of sports and gender, and to determine the influence of personality on competitive anxiety. Participants included 237 athletes (134 men and 103 women) who participated in the Thailand University Games, 2020. They were classified as individual (n = 114) and team (n = 123) athletes. Personality characteristics and competitive anxiety were assessed by using NEO five-factor inventory and sport competitive anxiety test. Differences between individual and team athletes and between gender were tested by using independent t-test. Relationships between personality and competitive anxiety were analyzed by using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. Moreover, multiple regression analysis was used to measure the contributions of personality on competitive anxiety. The results showed that competitive anxiety was significant difference between individual and team athletes (p = 0.03, d = 0.28). However, there was no difference in personality between groups. When compared between gender, there were significant differences in competitive anxiety (p < 0.001, d = 0.52) and the agreeableness (p = 0.04, d = -0.26) component of personality between female and male athletes. From the correlation analyzes, four characteristics of personality showed significant associations with competitive anxiety including neuroticism (r = -0.472, ρ < 0.001), extraversion (r = 0.184, ρ = 0.005), agreeableness (r = 0.147, ρ = 0.024), and conscientiousness (r = 0.202, ρ = 0.002). Among five personality factors, the neuroticism had minimally negative effect on competitive anxiety (β = -0.52) with percentage of prediction of 22%. These can be concluded that types of sport and gender are the important factors affecting personality and competitive anxiety. The athletes with certain personality traits were more susceptible to competitive anxiety. Importantly, the neuroticism could serve as a prediction of the competitive anxiety in all collegiate athletes.

The Effects of Concussion on Quantity and Quality of Sleep in Football Athletes

ObjectiveThe objective was to observe the quantity and quality of sleep of collegiate athletes following a concussion.BackgroundPatients diagnosed with a concussion report a disruption or change in their sleep with 46% of patients still having sleep disturbances 3 months after the event. Research is lacking on the sleep disruption or sleep changes in athletes who have experienced a concussion.Design/MethodsThis IRB-approved convenient cohort study involved athletes from 2 local universities. 27 (20 non-concussed and 7 concussed) male collegiate football players (19.93 ± 1.14 years old, 1.82 ± 0.08 m, and 96.42 ± 21.26 kg) wore a Readiband device for 7–10 days or throughout concussion recovery. Concussed participants completed a symptom score sheet each day. Participants returned the Readiband device and completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire (PSQIQ) after 7–10 days or on return to play. The sleep parameters, and PSQIQ scores were analyzed using non-parametric & independent t-tests with the alpha level set at 0.05.ResultsThe t-tests indicated a difference between the total minutes in bed at the initial measurement (F = 11.839, df = 1, p = 0.037) between the concussed (353.29 ± 110.48 minutes) and non-concussed (471.5 ± 125.09 minutes) groups. There was also a difference between the total minutes asleep at the initial measurement (F = 12.662, df = 1, p = 0.032) between the concussed (286.43 ± 86.73) and non-concussed groups (383.7 ± 104.86). The last measurement that indicated a difference was the calculated minutes in bed at the initial measurement (F = 11.916, df = 1, p = 0.023) between the concussed (326.4 3 ± 97.01) and non-concussed groups (441.60 ± 110.55).ConclusionsThe study results indicate that concussion affects the quantity of sleep, with concussed athletes spending less time in bed and fewer minutes asleep. Changes in sleep occur post-concussion, which may delay concussion recovery.

The Effect of Sex, Sport Participation, and Concussion History on Baseline Concussion Balance Test Performance in Division-I Collegiate Athletes

ObjectiveExplore the effect of baseline characteristics such as sex, sport, and concussion history on the Concussion Balance Test (COBALT) performance in collegiate athletes.BackgroundThe COBALT is a recently developed clinical balance assessment specifically for athletic populations following concussion. The task conditions of the COBALT are designed to challenge sensory integration and reweighting processing underlying postural control. It has been documented that balance performance is influenced by factors such as sex and sport in collegiate athletes.Design/MethodsOne-hundred twenty seven collegiate athletes (77 male, 50 female; age: 19.81 ± 1.39; height: 68.77 ± 5.57 in; mass: 80.98 ± 26.15 kg), who participated in Division-I football, soccer, or cheerleading were included. Participants completed the 4 baseline conditions (Condition 3, 4, 7, 8) of the COBALT. Condition 3 (C3) included a side-to-side headshake with eyes closed. For Condition 4 (C4) the participant stood with hands clasped, elbows extended, and thumbs up while rotating their trunk side-to-side, visually focusing on their thumbs. Conditions 7 (C7) and 8 (C8) repeated C3 and C4 on a foam surface. Two 20-second trials of each condition were completed on a forceplate and the mean angular sway velocity (°/s) were calculated and number of errors were counted. ANOVAs and ANCOVAs were used to assess the potential effects on COBALT performance.ResultsThere were no significant differences in postural sway for any COBALT condition based on sex (p > 0.05). Females demonstrated more errors than males on C7 (p < 0.001). Cheerleaders had more balance errors compared to football athletes for C3 and C7 (p < 0.05) and soccer athletes for C7 (p < 0.05). Concussion history did not have an effect on COBALT performance (p > 0.05).ConclusionsUnderstanding factors that may influence COBALT performance at baseline may enhance concussion evaluation in collegiate athletes with suspected balance deficits following concussion. While concussion history had no effect, sex and sports participation may influence performance and should be considered when interpreting COBALT results post-concussion.

PREDICTING MAXIMAL COUNTERMOVEMENT JUMP HEIGHT FROM UPRIGHT AND SQUAT POSITIONS HEAD TITLE: UPRIGHT AND SQUAT MAXIMUM JUMP HEIGHT PREDICTORS

Introduction. Countermovement jump is common in sport and testing and performed from various starting positions. Little is known about effective contributors to maximal countermovement jump height from various starting positions. Purpose and Objectives. Determine effective jump height predictors and effect of starting position on countermovement jump height. Applied Methodology. Forty-nine collegiate athletes performed maximal height countermovement jumps from upright and squatting positions with arm movement. Several variables were calculated from kinetic data. Correlation and regression determined variables related to and predictive of jump height in both conditions. Paired t-tests evaluated differences in jump height. Achieved Major Results. Upright condition jump height positively correlated with peak force and power, eccentric and concentric impulses, and countermovement depth. Jump height prediction included peak force and power, and eccentric and concentric impulses. Squat condition jump height positively correlated with peak force and power, mean rate of force development, force generated at the beginning of propulsion, and concentric impulse. Jump height prediction equation included mean rate of force development, force at the beginning of propulsion, and peak power. Jump height was higher in the upright condition. Conclusions. Higher jumps are achieved from the upright position. Peak force, peak power, and concentric and eccentric impulses best contribute to upright jump height. Mean rate of force development, force at the beginning of propulsion, and peak power best predicted squat jump height. Limitations. We did not restrict arm movement, to encourage natural motion. Depth was not controlled, rather advising a comfortable depth. Subjects were recruited from various collegiate sports. Practical implications. Maximal jump height from various positions may be achieved through efforts to maximize jump peak power and increase musculotendinous loading in sport-specific starting positions. Originality/Value. This is the first study to explore the predictors of upright and squat countermovement jumps. These results can guide jump performance training.

Diet Quality and Mental Health Status among Division 1 Female Collegiate Athletes during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The International Olympic Committee has identified mental health as a priority that significantly affects the physical health and safety of collegiate athletes. Interventions that improve diet quality have been shown to improve mental health in several populations. However, studies are needed to examine this relationship in female collegiate athletes, who have elevated risk of experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as dietary insufficiencies. In a quantitative, cross-sectional study, female student athletes at a U.S. university completed three mental health questionnaires: Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ), and COVID Stress Scales (CSS). Each female athlete also completed a validated, web-based Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ-III) resulting in a Healthy Eating Index (HEI). Seventy-seven participants completed all survey information. HEI scores were consistently higher for athletes with poorer mental health. HEI scores were significantly positively associated with stress (p = 0.015), performance concerns (p = 0.048), CSS components of danger (p = 0.007), contamination (p = 0.006), and traumatic stress (p = 0.003). Although findings support statistically significant associations among dietary quality and mental health indicators, including broad symptom severity or stressors specific to athletics or COVID-19, these associations were in the opposite direction hypothesized. Possible reasons for results and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Comparing High School Sport Specialization Trends Between Division I and Club Collegiate Athletes

Background: Adolescent athletes report that sports specialization improves their ability to receive a collegiate athletics scholarship, though this is not well-understood. The purpose of this study was to examine self-reported trends in high school specialization and influences for sport participation between Division I (D-I) and college-aged club (club) athletes. Hypothesis: There would be no difference in high school sport specialization or sport participation influences between D-I and club athletes. Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: A survey included specialization classification (low, moderate, and high) for 9th to 12th grade, age that the athlete started organized sport and his or her collegiate sport, and several influential factors for participation in one’s primary high school sport (1 = no influence to 5 = extremely influential). Chi-square analyses were used to compare specialization classifications between groups. Nonparametric tests were used to determine significant differences in age-related variables and influential factors between D-I and club athletes. All analysis were also conducted with boys and girls separately. Results: Participants included 266 D-I (girls, 155; 58%) and 180 club (girls, 122; 68%) athletes. Club athletes were more likely to be classified as low specialization at every grade in high school, and this difference was more pronounced between D-I and club female athletes than male athletes. The number of years an athlete was classified as highly specialized in high school was not different between D-I and club athletes. Club athletes were more influenced by playing with friends than D-I athletes and D-I athletes were more influenced by pursuing a collegiate scholarship than club athletes. Conclusion: High levels of specialization in high school sport may not be necessary for playing at the collegiate level, though some level of specialization in high school might be necessary. Clinical Relevance: Clinicians should advocate for healthy long-term athlete development, which does not support high specialization in high school sports.