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Coping strategies used by U.S. Olympic wrestlers
D Gould1, R C Eklund, S A Jackson
1Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina, Greensboro.
Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport
|March 1, 1993
Summary
Olympic wrestlers used diverse stress coping strategies, including thought control, task focus, behavioral adjustments, and emotional regulation. Well-learned strategies were perceived as more effective for managing athletic stress.
Area of Science:
- Sports Psychology
- Performance Psychology
- Stress Management
Background:
- Athletes face significant stressors during elite competitions like the Olympics.
- Understanding coping mechanisms is crucial for optimizing athletic performance and well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the stress coping strategies utilized by the 1988 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team.
- To identify the range and complexity of coping mechanisms employed by elite athletes under pressure.
Main Methods:
- In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with all 20 members of the 1988 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team.
- Strategies were analyzed using qualitative methods to identify patterns and themes.
Main Results:
- Wrestlers employed a combination of thought control, task focus, behavioral, and emotional control strategies.
- Coping efforts were dynamic and complex, often involving multiple strategies simultaneously.
- Automatized or well-learned coping strategies were perceived as more effective.
Conclusions:
- Elite athletes utilize a multifaceted approach to stress coping.
- The effectiveness of coping strategies is linked to their level of mastery and automaticity.
- Further research into the development and application of learned coping strategies in sports is warranted.