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The Impact of COVID-19 on High School Student-Athlete Experiences with Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Social Connection

Author

Listed:
  • Heather A. Shepherd

    (Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
    Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
    Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
    O’Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada)

  • Taffin Evans

    (Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
    Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
    Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
    O’Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada)

  • Srijal Gupta

    (Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

  • Meghan H. McDonough

    (Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

  • Patricia Doyle-Baker

    (Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
    O’Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada
    Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
    School of Architecture, Planning and Design, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

  • Kathy L. Belton

    (Injury Prevention Centre, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada)

  • Shazya Karmali

    (BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada)

  • Samantha Pawer

    (BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada)

  • Gabrielle Hadly

    (BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada)

  • Ian Pike

    (BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada
    Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

  • Stephanie A. Adams

    (Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
    Clinical Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK
    Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences, Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 8QA, UK)

  • Shelina Babul

    (BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada
    Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

  • Keith Owen Yeates

    (Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
    Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
    Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

  • Daniel C. Kopala-Sibley

    (Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
    Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
    Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
    Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada)

  • Kathryn J. Schneider

    (Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
    Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
    Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
    Sport Medicine Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

  • Stephanie Cowle

    (Parachute, Toronto, ON M4P 1E8, Canada)

  • Pamela Fuselli

    (Parachute, Toronto, ON M4P 1E8, Canada)

  • Carolyn A. Emery

    (Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
    Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
    Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
    O’Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada)

  • Amanda M. Black

    (Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
    Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
    Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
    O’Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada)

Abstract

COVID-19 restrictions led to reduced levels of physical activity, increased screen usage, and declines in mental health in youth; however, in-depth understandings of the experiences of high school student-athletes have yet to be explored. To describe the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic on student-athletes’ physical activity, social connection, and mental health, 20 high school student-athletes living in Calgary, Alberta participated in semi-structured interviews, designed using phenomenography. Participants reported variations in physical activity, social connections, and mental health which were influenced by stay-at-home restrictions and weather. Access to resources, changes to routines, online classes, and social support all influenced engagement in physical activity. School and sports provided opportunities for in-person social connections, impacted by the onset of the pandemic. Participants reported their mental health was influenced by social connections, online classes, and physical activity. Findings from this study will inform the development of resources for high school student-athletes amidst COVID-19.

Suggested Citation

  • Heather A. Shepherd & Taffin Evans & Srijal Gupta & Meghan H. McDonough & Patricia Doyle-Baker & Kathy L. Belton & Shazya Karmali & Samantha Pawer & Gabrielle Hadly & Ian Pike & Stephanie A. Adams & S, 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 on High School Student-Athlete Experiences with Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Social Connection," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-14, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:7:p:3515-:d:525744
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Semple, Freya Ffion & Mayne-Semple, Deborah, 2020. "Year 10 and 12 school students' opinions on returning to partial schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic: an action research prospective survey," SocArXiv mdjsn, Center for Open Science.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yunjie Luo & Yoko Sato, 2021. "Health-Related Quality of Life and Risk Factors among Chinese Women in Japan Following the COVID-19 Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-13, August.
    2. Devin P. Adams & Jasmine R. Holt & Jenna A. Martin & Danielle M. Houpy & Kathryn A. Hollenbach, 2022. "The Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on PHQ Depression Screening Scores for High School Athletes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-9, August.
    3. Daniel Acosta & Yui Fujii & Diana Joyce-Beaulieu & K. D. Jacobs & Anthony T. Maurelli & Eric J. Nelson & Sarah L. McKune, 2021. "Psychosocial Health of K-12 Students Engaged in Emergency Remote Education and In-Person Schooling: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-21, August.
    4. Lea Rossi & Nick Behme & Christoph Breuer, 2021. "Physical Activity of Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-18, October.

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