Stressors, coping, and coping effectiveness: gender, type of sport, and skill differences.
The aim of this study was to examine stressors, coping, and coping effectiveness as a function of gender, type of sport, and skill. The sample consisted of 749 undergraduate athletes (455 males, 294 females) aged 18-38 years (mean= 19.8 years). Skill was classified as international/national, county, university, and club standard. Participants completed a stressor and coping concept map (Novak & Gowin, 1984). The results revealed gender, type of sport, and skill differences in relation to stressor frequencies, coping strategy deployment, and coping effectiveness. In contrast to previous research, females used a variety of problem-focused (e.g. planning, communication, technique-orientated coping) strategies more frequently than males. Team sport athletes reported a variety of sport-specific stressors relating to the demands of playing in a team environment. The group of national/international athletes reported using more planning, blocking, and visualization, and also reported that their coping was more effective than that of less-skilled athletes.
Nicholls
Adam R
AR
Department of Psychology, University of Hull, Hull, UK. a.r.nicholls@leedsmet.ac.uk
Polman
Remco
R
Levy
Andrew R
AR
Taylor
Jamie
J
Cobley
Stephen
S
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011340:Problem Solving; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires