Is a pandemic as good as a rest? Comparing athlete burnout and stress before and after the suspension of organised team sport due to Covid-19 restrictions, and investigating the impact of athletes' responses to this period

The Impact of the SARS-COVID-19 Lockdowns on the Subjectively Perceived Performance Level of Amateur Athletes after Returning to the Gyms

Since December 2019, few issues have garnered as much global attention as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-19). The imposed lockdowns in 2020/21, which led to the closure of all gyms, barred people from participating in their favourite sports activities. This study explores athletes' self-evaluations of their performance levels upon return to training facilities post-reopening. Data were collected in May 2021, after the end of the second lockdown, using a national online questionnaire. The study recorded 20 demographic and training-specific parameters to discern the factors influencing self-perceived performance upon resuming gym activities after the 2020/2021 lockdown. A total of 1378 respondents participated in the study. Of the total number of participants, 27.5% (365) reported regaining 100% of their original performance level after reopening their studios, a proportion that comprised 212 males, 150 females, and 3 individuals of unspecified gender. Additionally, 35.7% (474) estimated their performance level to be up to 75%, followed by 30% (398) recording their performance level at 50%, and a minority of 6.8% (90) determining their performance level to be up to 25%. Exercise intensity prior to lockdown, training experience, sex, and concurrent practice of another sport significantly influenced the athletes' self-assessment of their current fitness levels (p > 0.001, p > 0.001, p > 0.001, and 0.006, respectively). We need to understand the factors that shape self-perception, especially in case of another lockdown, in order to provide preventive assistance concerning mental and physical well-being. Positive influences on self-perception include prior athletic experience, intensive training before the lockdown, and continued participation in sports throughout the lockdown. Younger age is also favourable, but this may not necessarily reflect the benefits of youth; rather, it could indicate the current lack of accessible online sports activities for older individuals. Women, however, might have a less favourable perception of their own athletic performance.

Associations between physical activity, mental health concerns, eating disorder symptoms, and emotional intelligence in adolescent athletes transitioning from COVID-19

BACKGROUND

It is well known that COVID-19 significantly disrupted the routines of school sports for adolescent athletes. In transitioning from this "change event," athletes may need support with resuming their pre-pandemic level of activities, and addressing their ongoing mental health concerns, including exacerbated eating disorder symptoms. Emotional intelligence (the ability to understand emotions, influencing decisions and motivation) is a factor that has not yet been studied during this transition, but may serve as a coping mechanism for altered physical activity, mental health, and eating disorder symptoms.

METHODS

Participants of the study included 315 Iranian adolescent athletes who transitioned back to 1 of 10 sports post quarantine restrictions (January 2022-January 2023). Physical activity and related stages of motivation for behavioral change were assessed by the Physical Activity Stages of Change Questionnaire, mental health concerns were assessed by the General Health Questionnaire-28, eating disorder symptoms were assessed by the Eating Attitudes Test-26, and emotional intelligence was assessed by the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test.

RESULTS

A three-way Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was conducted in order to test the overall differences between the 5 physical activity and behavioral change motivation groups (Pre-Contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, and Maintenance) on each of the 3 health measures (mental health concerns, eating disorder symptoms, and emotional intelligence); significant main effects were found for each measure. Fischer's Least Significant Difference Post-Hoc Test indicated that there were significant differences between the Pre-Contemplation and Preparation groups, as well as the Preparation and Action groups, on all of the health measure mean variable scores, which contributed to the MANOVA significant main effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants in the Pre-Contemplation group (not intending to make behavioral changes within the next 6 months) had less mental health, higher eating pathology, and lower emotional intelligence, compared to participants who were in the Preparation group (intending to make behavioral changes within the next 1 month). Similarly, participants in the Preparation group had less mental health, higher eating pathology, and lower emotional intelligence, compared to participants who were in the Action group (has made specific, overt behavioral changes within the preceding 6 months). Overall, the findings from the current study highlight the need for sports professionals working with adolescent athletes transitioning from COVID-19 to monitor these aspects of mental, eating, and emotional health. Given that those in earlier motivation stages had more health concerns compared to those in later stages, professionals should encourage progression from the Pre-Contemplation to Action/Maintenance stage in order to improve health outcomes.

Characteristics of Stress and Burnout among Lithuanian University Coaches: A Pre-Pandemic Coronavirus and Post-Pandemic Period Comparison

(1) Background: The majority of studies analyzing associations between burnout, gender, and perceived stress have utilized a cross-sectional design. This present longitudinal study investigated associations between burnout, perceived stress, and gender compared during the pre-pandemic Coronavirus and post-pandemic period among Lithuanian university coaches. (2) Methods: 214 university coaches were randomly selected for the study. Study participants completed two measurements: one pre-pandemic and the second post-pandemic. (3) Results: Gender differences were identified on all burnout elements but not on perceived stress. Repeated measures (RM) multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) results did not show a significant effect for the interaction between gender and time. Results of hierarchical (stepwise) regression analyses revealed that perceived stress after the pandemic predicted burnout levels for all three burnout components (exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced accomplishment) after the pandemic. (4) Conclusions: The current study contributes to the understanding of burnout components in relation to perceived stress through a longitudinal approach using a representative sample of Lithuanian university coaches.