The Impact of COVID-19 on High School Student-Athlete Experiences with Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Social Connection.

Publisher: MDPI Country of Publication: Switzerland NLM ID: 101238455 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1660-4601 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 16604601 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Environ Res Public Health Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Basel : MDPI, c2004-

COVID-19* ; Mental Health*; Adolescent ; Alberta/epidemiology ; Athletes ; Exercise ; Humans ; Pandemics ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Schools ; Students

COVID-19 restrictions led to reduced levels of physical activity, increased screen usage, and declines in mental health in youth; however, in-depth understandings of the experiences of high school student-athletes have yet to be explored. To describe the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic on student-athletes' physical activity, social connection, and mental health, 20 high school student-athletes living in Calgary, Alberta participated in semi-structured interviews, designed using phenomenography. Participants reported variations in physical activity, social connections, and mental health which were influenced by stay-at-home restrictions and weather. Access to resources, changes to routines, online classes, and social support all influenced engagement in physical activity. School and sports provided opportunities for in-person social connections, impacted by the onset of the pandemic. Participants reported their mental health was influenced by social connections, online classes, and physical activity. Findings from this study will inform the development of resources for high school student-athletes amidst COVID-19.

Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2010 Feb;22(1):81-92. (PMID: 20332542)
Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2014 Nov;6(3):324-46. (PMID: 25044598)
Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2000 Aug;34(4):594-601. (PMID: 10954390)
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2020 Dec;59(12):1309-1310. (PMID: 32860905)
J Sci Med Sport. 2010 May;13(3):318-22. (PMID: 19560973)
Environ Res. 2018 Oct;166:628-637. (PMID: 29982151)
J Sport Exerc Psychol. 2011 Aug;33(4):506-26. (PMID: 21808077)
Ann Behav Med. 2012 Oct;44(2):151-9. (PMID: 22576339)
Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2017 Sep;80:57-68. (PMID: 28506925)
Psychiatr Q. 2020 Sep;91(3):841-852. (PMID: 32319041)
Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2013 Apr 25;10:50. (PMID: 23618407)
Prev Med. 2020 Jan;130:105900. (PMID: 31733224)
Clin Psychol Rev. 2001 Feb;21(1):33-61. (PMID: 11148895)
Eur Psychiatry. 2021 Mar 09;64(1):e20. (PMID: 33686930)
J Athl Train. 2021 Jan 1;56(1):11-19. (PMID: 33290516)
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Sep 21;17(18):. (PMID: 32967091)
J Pediatr Psychol. 2011 May;36(4):385-97. (PMID: 21227908)
Qual Health Res. 2006 Apr;16(4):467-83. (PMID: 16513991)
Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2021 Jan-Feb;64:102-104. (PMID: 32278694)
Front Psychol. 2020 Nov 06;11:579038. (PMID: 33240167)
Annu Rev Psychol. 2019 Jan 4;70:271-294. (PMID: 30256720)
BMC Public Health. 2020 Sep 4;20(1):1351. (PMID: 32887592)
Lancet. 2020 Apr 4;395(10230):1096-1099. (PMID: 32203693)
Prev Med. 2016 Oct;91:344-350. (PMID: 27609745)

N/A Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute; N/A Integrated Concussion Research Program

Keywords: COVID-19; mental health; pandemic; physical activity; social connection; youth-athletes

Date Created: 20210403 Date Completed: 20210408 Latest Revision: 20240331

20240331

PMC8036482

10.3390/ijerph18073515

33805249