Abstract:
Few studies had been done regarding coping mechanisms of student athletes and despite of the awareness on the stressors they encounter, there is limited information regarding the level of coping mechanisms. Thus, this study aimed to identify the stressful events experienced by the student athletes from the past six months and to measure their level of coping mechanisms to stress to active coping, planning, suppression of competing activities, restraint coping, seeking social support for emotional reasons, positive reinterpretation and growth, acceptance, turning to religion, focus on and venting of emotions, behavioral disengagement, mental disengagement and alcohol-drug disengagement. This study also identified if there is significant differences on the coping mechanism when compared according to age, sex, ethnic affiliation, year level, college and type of sport.
The study was conducted at Benguet State University with a total of study 150 respondents who were randomly selected during the Academic Year 2018-2019, second semester. The data were gathered through a questionnaire administered personally by the researchers.
The statistical treatment of data consisted of frequency, percentage, weighted mean, T-test and F-test. The data were tallied, tabulated analyzed and interpreted.
Results revealed that student athletes of Benguet State University are stressed of too much requirements and conflict of schedules with computed percentage of 78.80 and 67.80 respectively. Further, it was revealed that student athletes mostly complied on coping strategies as to positive re-interpretation and growth with a mean of 2.56, acceptance with a mean of 2.52 and active coping with a mean of 2.50, all having a descriptive equivalent of always comply (AC) while they least complied on behavioral and alcohol-drug disengagement with a mean of 1.92 and 2.17 having a descriptive equivalent of sometimes comply (SC).
Analysis revealed that there are no significant differences in the level of compliance to stress among BSU student athletes when compared according to their age, ethnicity and college. However, there are significant differences on their level of compliance to stress when compared to according sex, type of sport and year level.
The study recommended an arrangement of the demand of the academic with the demand of athlete as to schedule and requirements; reinforcement of positive reinterpretation, acceptance and active coping to both student-athletes and coaches to boost coping strategies. IHK should device a program to boost sportsmanship and camaraderie among athletes and coaches every after game. The university may initiate conduction of seminars regarding on time management and relaxation technique to address the academic, physical, mental and environmental stressors of the student athletes. Further studies may include factors and other variables not included in the study which may affect the mental status of the student athletes.
