Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies Among Young Lithuanian Tennis Players
Abstract
Background: The psychological preparation of young athletes is a relevant issue, varying across different sports. Tennis is one of the fastest-growing sports, especially in Lithuania, which highlights the importance of psychological preparation for tennis players. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the stress experienced by young tennis athletes, the factors that cause it, and the stress-coping strategies they use.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included a representative sample (n = 60) of tennis players aged 12–17 years (mean age 14.63, SD = 1.52; 50% male) who participated in Lithuanian tennis championships. A questionnaire was used, which included questions about stress experienced during competitions, signs of stress, the causes of stress, and the coping strategies applied.
Results: The study revealed that 25.0% of tennis players experience high levels of stress during competitions. Girls reported higher stress levels during competitions compared to boys. The main stress-inducing factors identified were: fear of making mistakes (63.3%), fear of losing (56.7%), opponents’ skill level (55.0%), and the importance of the competition (31.7%). Fear of not meeting parents’ expectations was a greater source of stress than fear of not meeting the coach’s expectations. The most common stress symptoms experienced were anxiety, lack of concentration, negative thoughts, and increased heart rate. To reduce stress, tennis players most often listened to their favourite music, communicated with parents or friends, or talked with their coach.
Conclusion: The study revealed that all tennis players experience stress during competitions, and some of them experience high stress levels. This is more common among females than males. Young tennis players experience stress for various reasons, with both parents and coaches playing an important role. Although young athletes use several stress-coping strategies, they do not fully employ all effective coping methods. Therefore, the findings emphasise the importance of the coach’s role in the psychological preparation of young athletes.
Keywords: young tennis players, stress factors, coping with stress, psychological preparation
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