title: Parameters of low back pain chronicity among athletes: Associations with physical and mental stress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the general population, physical and mental stress factors are linked to chronic low back pain (LBP). The aim of the present study was to examine this association among athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal study with a six-month interval between measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were filled out at home, either in paper-pencil version or online.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-two male and 57 female athletes (N = 139, MAge = 32.24) who exercise on a competitive (n = 102) or recreational level (n = 37), with a weekly training volume of at least 3 h.
  
  
  METHODS
  At T0, stress parameters were assessed via the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire (RESTQ-Basic-48) and the Screening Scale of the Trier Inventory for the Assessment of Chronic Stress (TICS-SSCS). At T0 and T1, different chronification indicators were measured. Based on these assessments, the sample was split into a chronification and no-chronification group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ANCOVAs were used to conduct group comparisons with regard to stress levels. The chronification groups showed higher stress values for all chronification indicators. For the variables Physical Complaints and Overall Stress-TICS, the group differences became significant (p < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A relationship between stress parameters and LBP chronification was demonstrated among athletes for the first time.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Sport Psychology, Faculty of Sport Science, Ruhr University Bochum, Gesundheitscampus Nord Nr. 10, 44801 Bochum, Germany. Electronic address: jahan.heidari@rub.de.
authors.forename: Jahan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heidari
authors.affiliation: Unit of Sport Psychology, Faculty of Sport Science, Ruhr University Bochum, Gesundheitscampus Nord Nr. 10, 44801 Bochum, Germany. Electronic address: tobias.mierswa@rub.de.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mierswa
authors.affiliation: Section Health & Social Psychology, Institute of Psychology, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany. Electronic address: kleinert@dshs-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kleinert
authors.affiliation: Section Health & Social Psychology, Institute of Psychology, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany. Electronic address: i.ott@dshs-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitaetsstrasse 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany. Electronic address: Levenig@medpsych.ruhr-uni-bochum.de.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Levenig
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitaetsstrasse 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany. Electronic address: Hasenbring@medpsych.ruhr-uni-bochum.de.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasenbring
authors.affiliation: Unit of Sport Psychology, Faculty of Sport Science, Ruhr University Bochum, Gesundheitscampus Nord Nr. 10, 44801 Bochum, Germany; School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Blair Drive, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Blair Drive, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia. Electronic address: Michael.Kellmann@rub.de.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kellmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012307:Risk Factors; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Athletes; Chronification; Low back pain; Psychological stress