Spanish Sports situation during COVID-19 pandemic described as very hard: uncertainty, incredulity, and distress were reported, and included worry about the Olympics cancellation, future in general, future economic support and return to sports participation. The aim of this research is to present how Spanish rowers have been personally, and emotionally affected by the situation created; as well as to describe how they have coped with this negative situation. Participants: 193 rowers participated in the survey. (Mean age = 19.4 ± 3,9) Female: 40,9% Mean age = 19,4 ±3,8 53%; Men: 59,1% Mean age = 19.3 ± 3,9), 80,8% compete at Spanish National level and 19,2% at International level. Procedure: an online questionnaire named RECOVID-19, was designed to assess how athletes were living their lives during periods of home confinement. The main purpose of the questionnaire was to assess the impact of prolonged confinement on athlete`s psychological, emotional, and behavioral performance, and included a validated Spanish version of Profile of Mood State, socio-demographic questions, training conditions at home, rule acceptance, motivation, stress, and other behavioral problems. Results showed that during confinement, (24,4%), of participating rowers practiced training routines at home between 8-10 hours per week and (29%). between 11-13 hours a week. Gender differences, tested by multi-group analysis, revealed that engaging in coping activities was more often associated with negative emotional states among female rowers, who scored higher in negative thoughts, anger, and fatigue. Lack of motivation and behavioral problems was associated in both men and women with negative emotional states. Rule acceptance was positively related to positive emotional states, whereas the ongoing availability of training information and future conditions were equally protective factors for both genders, increasing the vigor sensation, and decreasing fatigue, tension, and depression. Better training conditions in both also increased vigor sensation. During confinement, coping activities were important to reduce distress, and were used extensively. Video calls, online and other networking activities (96,4), reading (57,77), watching TV (84,5%), listening to music (80,8%), learning something new (52,3%) like cooking (19,2), practicing relaxation techniques (48,2%) or mindfulness (11,4%) were the most popular coping activities reported by rowers. Conclusions: Among this sample of Spanish rowers coping with confinement, women and men have presented different characteristics, and have experienced the situation differently. Coach information, and psychological information have been beneficial and have facilitated coping with this very new and difficult situation between Spanish rowers. Programs to protect athletes facing critical situations , should consider the different reactions between men and women in planning interventions.
© Copyright 2022 27th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Sevilla, 30. Aug - 2. Sep 2022. Veröffentlicht von Faculty of Sport Science - Universidad Pablo de Olavide. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.