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

Shepherd, Heather A.; Evans, Taffin; Gupta, Srijal; McDonough, Meghan H.; Doyle-Baker, Patricia; Belton, Kathy L.; Karmali, Shazya; Pawer, Samantha; Hadly, Gabrielle; Pike, Ian; Adams, Stephanie A.; Babul, Shelina; Yeates, Keith Owen; Kopala-Sibley, Daniel C.; Schneider, Kathryn J.; Cowle, Stephanie; Fuselli, Pamela; Emery, Carolyn A.; Black, Amanda M.

doi:10.3390/ijerph18073515

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

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Daniel C. Kopala-Sibley

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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

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O’Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada

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

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School of Architecture, Planning and Design, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada

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

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

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Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada

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Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada

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Clinical Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK

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Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences, Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 8QA, UK

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Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada

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Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada

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Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada

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Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada

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Sport Medicine Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada

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Parachute, Toronto, ON M4P 1E8, Canada

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Academic Editor: Paul B. Tchounwou

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(7), 3515; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073515

Received: 3 March 2021 / Revised: 19 March 2021 / Accepted: 23 March 2021 / Published: 29 March 2021

(This article belongs to the Section Adolescents)

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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. View Full-Text

Keywords: physical activity; mental health; social connection; youth-athletes; COVID-19; pandemic

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Shepherd, H.A.; Evans, T.; Gupta, S.; McDonough, M.H.; Doyle-Baker, P.; Belton, K.L.; Karmali, S.; Pawer, S.; Hadly, G.; Pike, I.; Adams, S.A.; Babul, S.; Yeates, K.O.; Kopala-Sibley, D.C.; Schneider, K.J.; Cowle, S.; Fuselli, P.; Emery, C.A.; Black, A.M. The Impact of COVID-19 on High School Student-Athlete Experiences with Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Social Connection. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 3515. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073515

AMA Style

Shepherd HA, Evans T, Gupta S, McDonough MH, Doyle-Baker P, Belton KL, Karmali S, Pawer S, Hadly G, Pike I, Adams SA, Babul S, Yeates KO, Kopala-Sibley DC, Schneider KJ, Cowle S, Fuselli P, Emery CA, Black AM. The Impact of COVID-19 on High School Student-Athlete Experiences with Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Social Connection. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(7):3515. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073515

Chicago/Turabian Style

Shepherd, Heather A., Taffin Evans, Srijal Gupta, Meghan H. McDonough, Patricia Doyle-Baker, Kathy L. Belton, Shazya Karmali, Samantha Pawer, Gabrielle Hadly, Ian Pike, Stephanie A. Adams, Shelina Babul, Keith O. Yeates, Daniel C. Kopala-Sibley, Kathryn J. Schneider, Stephanie Cowle, Pamela Fuselli, Carolyn A. Emery, and Amanda M. Black. 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 on High School Student-Athlete Experiences with Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Social Connection" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 7: 3515. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073515

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