Facing the COVID-19 Opponent

Abstract

A group of women who have been left out of the conversation during the COVID-19 pandemic is middle-aged women (30-60 years old) who were formerly collegiate athletes. This population may be in a unique position to reflect on if and how their participation in college athletics has informed their response to COVID-19. Therefore, this study is one of the first to utilize halftime (i.e., middle age and mid-pandemic) to ask former women collegiate athletes to reflect on their college athletic experience and its relevance to the present day as society is facing a global crisis. Results from this exploratory study suggest that collegiate sport experiences serve to promote positive coping responses beyond college years and during difficult times for this group.