CONSEQUENCES OF COVID-19 PREVENTIVE MEASURES ON ANXIETY, STRESS AND DEPRESSION IN FOOTBALL ATHLETES

ABSTRACT

The study analysed the impacts of the preventive measures of COVID-19 on the symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression in soccer athletes. Twenty-four males participated in the study, with an average age of 18.4±1.4 years, who had their training suspended due to the preventive measures of COVID-19. Levels of anxiety, stress and depression (DASS-21) and competitive anxiety (CSAI-2 R) were assessed during training interruption and 20 days after the laps. The return to training, after the training interruption period, reduced the levels of somatic anxiety (10.6%), cognitive anxiety (10.5%), depression (9.8%), stress (19.7%), anxiety (14.2%) and self-confidence (4.8%), but without significant differences. It was identified that athletes with more than 10 years of practice had a significant increase in confidence (p =0.009) compared to athletes with less than 10 years of practice. During the pandemic, there was no variation in the levels of anxiety, stress and depression symptoms in athletes.

Disclosure of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

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