Psychological Predictors of Injury Occurrence: A Prospective Investigation of Professional Swedish Soccer Players

• DOI: 10.1123/jsr.22.1.19
• Publication Date: 2016-08-10T12:27:44Z
• Authors: Andreas Ivarsson; Urban Johnson; Leslie Podlog
• Keywords: Stressor; Experience sampling method

Context: Athletes participating in sport are exposed to a high injury risk. Previous research has found great number of risk factors (both physiological and psychological) that could increase 1 One limitation previous studies is few have considered the complex interaction between psychological their design. Objective: To study whether personality, stress, coping predicted occurrence an elite soccer population based on hypothesized model. Design: Prospective. Participants: 56 (n = 38 male, n 18 female) Swedish Premiere League players were selected convenience sampling. Intervention: Participants completed 4 questionnaires including Universities Scales Personality, 2 Life Events Survey for Collegiate Athletes, 3 Brief COPE during initial questionnaire administration. Subsequent first meeting, participants also Hassle Uplift Scale 5 once per wk 13-wk period throughout competitive season. Main Outcome Measures: A path analysis was conducted examining influence personality traits (ie, trait anxiety), state-level stressors negative-life-event stress daily hassles), frequency. Results: Results indicated anxiety, hassle significant predictors among professional players, accounting 24% variance. Conclusion: The findings highlight need athletes, coaches, medical practitioners attempt reduce stressors, especially hassles, minimizing Educating training athletes coaches proactive stress-management techniques appears warranted.