Comparison of anxiety status, social support, and coping mechanisms among football players and American football players

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to assess the differences of psychological factors among football players and American football players. Methods: A total of 68 players (34 American football players and 34 football players) were investigated. Data of players (age, height, body weight, body mass index, marital status, sports experience), and their answers to State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 (ACSI-28) were collected. Results: Height, body weight and body mass index values of American football players were significantly higher than football players (p=0.033; p<0.001; p<0.001, respectively). The rate of being married of football players was significantly higher than American football players (p=0.021). Sports history of football players was significantly higher than American football players (p<0.001). The state anxiety level of American football players is significantly lower than football players (p<0.001), and total scores for social support (p=0.038), coping with adversity (p=0.013), coachability (p<0.001), concentration (p=0.002), and confidence and achievement motivation subscales (p=0.005) were significantly higher than football players. Conclusion: The psychological state of the athletes, their ability to cope with stressful conditions and the social support they receive may differ among sports branches. Therefore, considering the differences between the athletes in different sport branches may contribute when planning appropriate interventions for mental health programs.