Athlete Mental Health Issues Quiz

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What percentage of athletes experience anxiety or depression?

19 %

33.6 % (correct)

49 %

16 - 34 %

Which mental health issue affects the highest percentage of athletes according to the data provided?

Self-harming

Anxiety/Depression

Bipolar disorders

Sleep problems (correct)

What is the reported prevalence of eating disorders among athletes?

19 %

5.4 %

33.6 %

-19 % to -45 % (correct)

What proportion of athletes reportedly struggle with substance abuse?

19 % Signup and view all the answers

How common is post-traumatic stress disorder among athletes?

Not specified Signup and view all the answers

Which mental health issue has a reported prevalence of 1 in 6 among athletes?

Suicide Signup and view all the answers

What is the percentage range for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder among athletes?

5.4 % Signup and view all the answers

In comparison to the general population, athletes have a higher occurrence of which mental health issues?

Anxiety, depression, and substance abuse Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of variation in psychological well-being is accounted for by demographic and socioeconomic factors?

10% Signup and view all the answers

According to the cited models, what is the primary focus of the Life-Event-Theory?

The stress caused by major life changes Signup and view all the answers

Which approach to stress is characterized as stimulus-oriented?

Life-Event-Theory Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of variation in psychological well-being is attributed to personality factors?

20% Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the General Adaptation Syndrome, what is a key reaction to prolonged stress?

Physical exhaustion and health decline Signup and view all the answers

What is an important concept in the Transactional Model of Stress?

Cognitive appraisal Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does the Conservation of Resources model focus on in relation to stress?

The importance of resource acquisition Signup and view all the answers

What role do changes in health play according to the Life-Event-Theory?

They can result from the accumulation of both positive and negative life changes. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two mechanisms through which exercise regulates stress responses?

Strengthening of psychosocial resources and reduction of stress responses Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important for exercise to be perceived positively in relation to stress?

Exercising should not feel like an additional burden Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of physical activity (PA)?

Bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles resulting in energy expenditure above resting levels. Signup and view all the answers

What is the proposed stress-buffer effect hypothesis regarding exercise?

Exercise moderates the relationship between stress and health Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes exercise in relation to physical activity?

Exercise is a behavioral subset of PA that is planned, structured, and repetitive. Signup and view all the answers

How does exercise influence cognitive appraisal of stressors?

It strengthens psychosocial resources, aiding in evaluation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of effective stress regulation through exercise?

Perception of exercise as a stressor Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between stress and exercise?

Exercise can alleviate stress, while stress can affect exercise participation. Signup and view all the answers

What impact does regular exercise have on health during stressful periods?

It reduces and regulates stress effectively Signup and view all the answers

According to the information provided, how can stress impact exercise?

Stress can decrease exercise participation due to anxiety or lack of energy. Signup and view all the answers

Choose the statement that summarizes the bidirectional relationship between stress and exercise.

Stress and exercise influence one another in a reciprocal manner. Signup and view all the answers

What is the suggested regularity of exercise for obtaining the best stress-regulating effect?

Exercise should be done daily and consistently Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'exercise' exclude according to the definitions given?

Bodily movements that are spontaneous and unplanned. Signup and view all the answers

What is a likely consequence of viewing exercise as an additional source of stress?

Diminished benefits of exercise on health Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary objective of exercise as defined in the content?

To improve or maintain physical fitness. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect is considered when categorizing physical activity separate from exercise?

The energy expenditure being above resting levels. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two basic mechanisms that explain the stress-injury relationship?

Increased muscle tension and attention deficits during stress Signup and view all the answers

How do personality traits influence responses to stress according to the stress and injury model?

They affect the likelihood of appraising a situation as stressful Signup and view all the answers

Which variable is NOT considered in the stress and injury model?

Socioeconomic status Signup and view all the answers

How is stress primarily defined in the context of the relationship between a person and their environment?

As an appraisal of environmental demands exceeding resources Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of coping resources in the context of stress and injury?

They help moderate the stress response and injury risk Signup and view all the answers

What are stressors defined as in the context of physiological stress?

Forces acting on a biological system to induce stress Signup and view all the answers

According to Baum's definition, stress includes which of the following components?

Predictable biochemical and cognitive changes in response to negativity Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of stress might lead to injury according to the model?

Increased muscle tension during stress Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would likely increase the risk of injury in a stressful situation?

Personality traits worsening stress response Signup and view all the answers

What does coping entail according to Lazarus and Folkman's description?

Constantly changing strategies to manage demands perceived as taxing Signup and view all the answers

In what way is physiological imbalance related to the definition of stress?

It triggers behavioral responses aimed at restoring balance Signup and view all the answers

What type of changes occur in individuals experiencing stress according to the model?

Attentional changes and muscle tension Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about the experiences that cause stress?

They are always external and cannot be internal Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is least likely to contribute to the stress and injury model's framework?

Medical history Signup and view all the answers

What role does appraisal play in the understanding of stress according to the definitions provided?

It determines whether an event is perceived as taxing Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about the nature of coping efforts in the context of stress management?

They consist of adaptive responses based on situational demands Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Stress, Mental Health, and Wellbeing in Sport and Exercise Psychology

Stress is a physical and mental response to a stressor.
A stressor is a force that acts on a biological system.
Distress is a psychological reaction to stressors. It can be emotional, cognitive, or behavioral.
Stress is an imbalance in physiological systems, activating physiological and behavioral responses to restore balance.

Psychosocial Disorders in Athletes

1 in 3 athletes affected by a mental health issue.
16-34% of active and inactive athletes are affected by mental health disorders.
Mental health issues in athletes are more prevalent than in the general population regarding anxiety and depression.
Examples of mental disorders prevalent among athletes include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Self-harm/self-injury
- Eating disorders
- Substance use disorders
- Suicidal thoughts
- Sleep problems
- Family issues

Defining Wellbeing

Psychological well-being is about lives going well.
This is a combination of feeling good and functioning effectively.
It is not about feeling good all the time.
Feeling good has to do with positive emotions like happiness, contentment, and interest, as well as engagement, confidence, and affection.
Functioning effectively is about developing one's potential, having control over one's life, having a sense of purpose, and experiencing positive relationships.

Drivers of Well-being

Personality is the strongest predictor of usual emotional style.
Higher levels of Extraversion usually predict positive emotional traits.
Higher levels of Neuroticism usually predict negative emotional traits.
U-shaped relationship between age and mental well-being (a single item)
Gender effect on ill-being, with little evidence for well-being.
Marital status is associated with higher life satisfaction and lower rates of psychological ill-being. However causation is unclear.
Socioeconomic factors generally only account for 10-20% of the variance in psychological well being when looking at individuals.
Higher levels of income and socioeconomic status is a positive influence
Higher educational qualifications usually have a protective function against poor mental health but this can decrease with more education.

Theories and Models of Stress and Coping

Stimulus-oriented approaches:
- Life-event theory (Holmes & Rahe, 1967)
- Major life changes are stressful.
- Accumulation of life changes affect health.
- The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) measures stress from life changes.
- Negative correlations between life events and health are usually small.
Reaction-oriented approaches:
- General Adaptation Syndrome (Hans Selye, 1950)
- Stress is a nonspecific response to any demand.
- Stages include alarm reaction, resistance and exhaustion.
Cognitive approaches:
- Transactional Model of Stress (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984):
- Stress is a relationship between person and the environment that's appraised as taxing or exceeding one's resources.
- Conservation of Resources (Hobfoll, 1988):
- Stress results from a reaction to the environment that involves the threat of loss or actual loss of resources.

Various definitions of stress.
Different types of measures may include Perceived Stress Questionnaire, or Salivary free cortisol.

Coping Strategies of Athletes

Gender Differences:
- Female athletes show higher levels of anxiety and use emotion-focused coping strategies.
- Female athletes experience more intense stress from coaches.
- Female athletes are more likely to search for emotional/instrumental support.
Performance Level Differences:
- Elite male athletes more frequently use approach coping styles than avoidance.
- Non-elite male athletes more frequently use avoidance coping styles.
- Elite female athletes more frequently use avoidance coping styles.
- Non-elite athletes use approach coping strategies more often.
Coping Strategies and Mental Health
- Problem-focused coping associated with lower anxiety.
- Emotion-focused coping associated with higher neuroticism.
- Proactive coping is positively correlated to moderate physical activity and self-efficacy.
Functionality of coping strategies
- Emotion-focused coping is associated with negative affect and neuroticism.
- Problem-focused coping is associated with positive affect and low anxiety.
- Emotion-focused and avoidance coping are associated with cognitive anxiety and neuroticism.

Coping during Competitive Suffering Episodes

Negative feelings about goal attainment predict problem-focused coping use.
Negative feelings about goal attainment strongly predict emotion-focused coping use.
Avoidance coping use decreases over time.
Endurance athletes who fall behind their goals during competition experience competitive suffering.
Endurance athletes adapt their coping efforts to manage reactions to goal failure.
Participants increase attempts to regulate and change the reality of the situation.

Physical Activity and Stress

Physical activity has an effect on exercise
Exercise has an effect on stress.
Stress and exercise influence one another in a bidirectional relationship.
Cross sectional studies demonstrate a negative relationship between exercise and perceived stress.
Longitudinal studies show exercise can reduce perceived stress but also high stress may cause a decrease in exercise participation.
Exercise buffers against health-damaging effects of stress. This occurs by increasing psychosocial resources and reducing stress responses.
Exercise can have an effect on the stress-health relationship by moderating the effect.

Cross-stressor Adaptation Hypothesis

Regular exercise leads to adaptations in stress response systems
This decreases physiological responses to psychological stressors.
Exercise helps the body regulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS).
These systems have significant roles in the physiological stress reaction
These adaptations to physical activity also translate into adaptations to psychosocial demands.

Physical Activity /Exercise and Affect/Depression/Anxiety

Physical activity related to positive mood and effect.
Aerobic exercise has positive effects on vigor and small-to-moderate negative effects on fatigue, confusion, depression, anger, and tension.
Experimental trials support the effect of moderate exercise on psychological well-being.
Exercise is related to positive changes in self-esteem and physical perceptions.
Exercise may decrease depression by exerting a regulatory influence on the monoamine (neurotransmitter) system and the HPA axis.

Psychological Antecedents of Sport Injury

Physical factors are the main cause of sport injuries.
Psychological factors can contribute to incidents of sport injuries. The relationship between sport injuries and psychological factors is primarily stress related.
Situations can be perceived as threatening provoking anxiety and muscle tension which increases the chance of injury.
A framework for predicting and preventing stress-related injuries should consider many factors like attentional, behavioral, intrapersonal, social and stress history variables.
Increases in general muscle tension and attention deficits happen often during stress.
People with personality traits that worsen stress response and few coping resources will likely have a higher risk of injury when in a stressful situation.

Psychological States and Risk of Injury

Perceived Physical energy is the biggest predictor of risk of injury
Feeling socially unable contributes to higher risk of injury
Feelings of sleepiness doubles the risk of injury.
Light injuries occur more often in athletes who perceived their physical health as bad
Medium injuries occur more often in athletes who perceived themselves as less trained and highly outgoing.
Significant injuries occur more often in athletes who are in a bad mood prior to a match.

Psychological Response to Sport Injury and Rehabilitation

Personality characteristics, history of stressors, coping resources, and interventions influence athletes' stress response and the subsequent likelihood of injury.
The same factors that determine injury risk also influence athletes' psychological response to injury.
Key premise: Each individual may respond differently to an injury due to how they perceive the meaning of the injury, consequences of the injury, and one's ability to cope.

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs)

In DSM-5, Substance Abuse and Dependence are replaced by Substance Use Disorders.
Diagnostic criteria, symptoms, and severity vary between substances.
A problematic pattern of substance use, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, may occur over a 12 month period.
Common symptoms include tolerance, withdrawal, and use despite negative consequences.

Additional Considerations

WHO 2001&2016 definitions of Mental Health
General definition of Health as a continuum
Mental health spectrum with different levels (e.g. mild, moderate, severe, etc.)
Classifications systems for mental health problems from WHO (ICD-10) APA (DSM-5)

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge about the prevalence of mental health issues among athletes. This quiz covers topics like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and the impact of demographic factors on psychological well-being. Discover how these issues compare to the general population's mental health statistics.