Acute sport-related stressors, coping, and emotion among professional rugby union players during training and matches

Nicholls, A. R.; Jones, C. R.; Polman, R. C. J.; Borkoles, E.

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0838.2008.00772.x

Acute sport-related stressors, coping, and emotion among professional rugby union players during training and matches

Nicholls, A. R.; Jones, C. R.; Polman, R. C. J.; Borkoles, E.

Authors

Professor Adam Nicholls A.Nicholls@hull.ac.uk
Professor of Psychology/ Leader of the Sport Psychology and Coaching Group

C. R. Jones

R. C. J. Polman

E. Borkoles

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine acute sport-related stressors, coping, and emotion among a sample of professional rugby union players during training and matches. Five professional rugby union players maintained diaries for 31 days. The diaries consisted of a stressor checklist and an open-ended stressor response section, an open-ended coping response section, a Likert-type evaluation of coping effectiveness, a best-of-fit emotional response section, and a Likert-type evaluation of emotional intensity. Six out of the 10 stressors reported had a higher mean frequency in training compared with matches. Blocking was the most frequently cited coping strategy on match days, whereas increased concentration was the most frequently cited coping strategy on training days. Coping effectiveness was significantly higher during training compared with matches. Additionally, higher levels of emotional intensity were significantly associated with lower levels of coping effectiveness. Significant individual differences were found for both coping effectiveness and emotional intensity.

Citation

Nicholls, A. R., Jones, C. R., Polman, R. C. J., & Borkoles, E. (2009). Acute sport-related stressors, coping, and emotion among professional rugby union players during training and matches. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 19(1), 113-120. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2008.00772.x

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Dec 19, 2007
Online Publication Date	Feb 17, 2008
Publication Date	2009-02
Journal	SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS
Print ISSN	0905-7188
Publisher	Wiley
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	19
Issue	1
Pages	113-120
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2008.00772.x
Keywords	Stressors; Coping; Emotions; Professional rugby
Public URL	https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/391606
Publisher URL	https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2008.00772.x