Stress in competitive sports : a comparative study of individual and team sports

Abstract

This study seeks to understand the impact of stress on athletes and whether team sport athletes are more likely to report experiencing higher levels of stress than individual sport athletes, or vice versa. Using a qualitative methodology, eight semi-structured interviews with athletes between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five were conducted. Following the transcription of these interviews, the data was then analysed using narrative analysis. Findings from this study shed light on current issues surrounding mental health in sports in the local context and increased understanding of how stress varies for athletes based on the activity they train in. The participants' athletes contributed to a distinct perspective on the subject, and the results showed that team sports put athletes under more strain than individual sports do due to certain variables. This study made several suggestions for additional research and application.