Coping with the COVID‐19 pandemic by Paralympic athletes preparing for elite sport events: A longitudinal study

Abstract

Introduction This study investigates the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on mental health, coping styles and their relationship, and training opportunities in elite athletes with disabilities (AwD) preparing for national and international sport events during a ten‐month observation period. Methods The study covered four time points in 3‐month intervals, one retrospective, and three times during the 10 months of the pandemic period with diversified numbers of average new infections per day: A—pre‐pandemic, B—third wave of the pandemic (mean = 15 681), C—decrease of the pandemic (mean = 102), and D—fourth wave of the pandemic (mean = 22 591). Main outcome measures included the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results The models regarding changes in anxiety (F(3,72) = 22.43; p < 0.001; partial η2 = 0.48) and depression (F(3,72) = 23.82; p < 0.001; partial η2 = 0.50) over the four time points of examination were significant. The pattern of relationship between coping styles and mood changes during COVID‐19 pandemic periods, that is, a sudden increase in anxiety during dynamic growth of infections (waves of a pandemic) and a steady increase in depression over the course of the pandemic was not found. The difference in planned and actual training decreased significantly over time (p < 0.001). Conclusions During the transitionary times of the COVID‐19 pandemic, both mental health and training opportunities of AwD were at increased risk. Individual coping styles used by AwD were insufficient resources to cope with the extreme stress caused by the COVID‐19 pandemic. Their mental health should be monitored in pandemics and similar situations to ensure appropriate and timely organizational and psychological intervention.

Loneliness and Coping Styles Among Athletes With Disabilities During the COVID‐19 Pandemic

“…In summary, similar to other findings conducted during the pandemic on the general population [31,32], our study confirmed that the EO coping style negatively affects components of mental health such as loneliness. This contrasts with research showing that coping styles did not significantly predict other mental health dimensions such as anxiety and depression over time [17]. Specifically, the styles used in the initial phase of the pandemic did not predict anxiety and depression levels measured 3 months later.…”

“…Despite athletes being considered individuals with higher extraversion, greater emotional stability, and a stronger sense of responsibility than nonathletes, potentially making them better equipped to handle difficulties [15,16], the pandemic posed a unique challenge affecting their functioning [11,17]. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to assess AWD's experiences of loneliness during the pandemic periods, as well as to assess the relationship between loneliness, coping styles and demographic factors (age, gender), disability-related factors (type of disability, time since injury), and sport-specific factors (sport discipline, athletic tenure) within this population.…”

Pain, discomfort and psychobiological factors in wheelchair tennis athletes following COVID-19 lockdowns

“…Para-athletes with lower recovery levels, which are associated with low functionality, may present with a lack of interest in sport, such as in maintaining fitness for the next competition. In addition, the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic could have aggravated such conditions because of the need to adapt to sanitary measures [26,27].…”

Pandemic-specific coping, anxiety, and depression across multiple waves of COVID-19 in elite athletes with disabilities

“…Although athletes with disabilities reported less distress during the pandemic than able-bodied athletes in one study ( Fiorilli et al, 2021 ), persons with disabilities reported experiencing greater pandemic-related stress than persons without disabilities in the general population, and Paralympic athletes reported lower levels of mental health than a sample matched on age and gender from the general population ( Busch et al, 2022 ) in other studies. Moreover, given the uniqueness of the circumstances, it is possible that the item content on standardized coping inventories may not fully capture the range of coping activities with which people engage and that responses to such inventories may not reflect what people do when confronted by the set of stressors characteristic of the COVID-19 pandemic ( Urbański et al, 2023 ). It is, therefore, necessary to consider pandemic-specific coping efforts when investigating the association between coping and mental health outcomes during the pandemic.…”