This study was aimed to clarify the structures of hardship experiences at the competitive sports activities of university athletes and the overcoming factors for them, and to obtain the attitude of university athletes and the role of the supervisors toward overcoming their hardship experiences.
The questionnaire method was applied in this study, proceeding factor analysis concerning hardship experiences at the competitive sports activities and factors to overcome them. The subjects were 313 university athletes of the physical course (20.7±1.2 years old).
The results of factor analysis identified a six-factor model with 44 items for hardship experiences at the competitive sports activities and a five-factor model with 40 items for overcoming factors. University athletes were faced with “consequence on the athletic activities by injury” “depressive performance” “hardness on the practice” “mental strain in the athletic life” “friction of human relations” and “sense of responsibility within the team” in their athletic competitive life as hardship experiences. However, “eagerness for sports and conviction” “support by others” “switching of thinking” “significance of the competition continuation” and “changes in the competition environment” were indicated as factors leading to overcome from those situations.
In the next study, the possibility of overcoming was examined concerning with the largest hardship experiences. University athletes with high competition level experienced higher “mental strain in the athletic life” and got better by “eagerness for sports and conviction” than others. University athletes leading their teams experienced higher “sense of responsibility within the team” “consequence on the athletic activities by injury” and felt better by “eagerness for sports and conviction” “support by others” and “switching of thinking” than others. For the first experience of great hardship in competitive sports caused mainly in their high school years (16.1±3.1 years old) in which victory supremacist was strengthened. It was interpreted that the stronger the degree of hardship experiences is the lower the overcoming from them becomes, and also the more the factors of promoting overcoming increases the higher the overcoming become.
It was important for overcoming from hardship that student players construct a good interpersonal relationship in their team receiving the support by others, and gain a positive thinking. And it was important as a role of supervisors that they do not only technical coach to student players, but also understand their sentiments while regulating the interpersonal relations in their team and supporting them. In order to the mental nourishment for their future for the hardship experiences as overcoming experiences, it was suggested that the power of the student players who get over from hardship with themselves and the power of the supervisors who support the capability of the student players and gave a lead to overcome.
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