Longitudinal evaluation of mental condition and stress among collegiate soccer players during a competitive season:

towards burnout prevention

Abstract

　In soccer coaching, monitoring of stress experienced by athletes is considered vital for their psychological and physical well-being and prevention of athlete burnout. Athletes are under substantial stress and pressure to be successful. Taking these factors into account, it seems necessary to seek an effective way to monitor the mental condition of athletes and investigate how this changes during a competitive season. The primary purpose of this study, therefore, was to develop a Mental Condition Evaluation Sheet with relation to Burnout for Soccer players (MCESB―S) and examine its reliability and validity. The secondary purpose of the study was to evaluate longitudinal changes in the stress experienced by collegiate soccer players during a competitive season.
　In Study Ⅰ, 138 Japanese collegiate soccer players (male=98, female=40) participated and in Study Ⅱ 25 collegiate female soccer players did so. For achieving the secondary purpose, MCESB―S as a psychological indicator and the cortisol awakening response (CAR) as a biological indicator of stress were adopted. Once a week, for 4 consecutive weeks, players provided MCESB-S scores and saliva samples collected at 0 and 30 mins after awakening.
　The results of Study Ⅰ showed sufficient reliability for the MCESB―S. Total mental condition (TMC) scores calculated in the MCESB―S were significantly correlated with burnout symptoms such as reduced accomplishments and sport devaluation. It can be considered from these results that the MCESB―S works as a useful psychological indicator of stress conditions in athletes. The results of Study Ⅱ highlighted the fact that the levels of stress perceived by athletes change during a competitive season. Higher levels of TMC were negatively correlated with their CAR. Within mental conditions, satisfaction with ‘skill level’, ‘communication’ and ‘selfcontrol’ was significantly associated with CAR. In addition, the results of a match held during a season would impact athletes’ stress level to a great extent.
　In conclusion, those who work with athletes should monitor their stress level regularly and an increase of athletes’ satisfaction regarding ‘skill level’, ‘communication’ and ‘self-control’ would be useful for preventing athlete burnout.