Abstract
Aims: The primary aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between organisational stressors and mental health and wellbeing indicators of the Irish Olympic Team, pre- and post- the ‘Tokyo 2020’ Olympic Games. A secondary aim was to also examine the differences in mental health and wellbeing between the athletes and staff of Team Ireland pre and post Games.
Method: The Irish Olympic Team comprised of 271 members (116 athletes and 155 team staff). Participants were sent an online survey package 2-weeks pre-games (Time 1) and 4-weeks post-games (Time 2). A total of 98 participants (36% response rate) responded at Time 1, and 70 participants (26% response rate) responded at Time 2. Measures included the Organisational Stressor Indicator for Sport Performers (OSI-SP), the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF), and the Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool-1 (SMHAT-1).
Results: There was a significant inverse association between organisational stressors and mental wellbeing at both Time 1 (𝛽 = -.46), and Time 2 (𝛽 = -.35), and from pre- to post-games (𝛽 = -.48). There was a significant positive association between organisational stressors and risk of mental health symptoms at both Time 1 (𝛽 = .69), and Time 2 (𝛽 = .67), and from pre- to post-games (𝛽 = .34). At Time 1, team staff (75%) reported significantly greater risk of mental health symptoms than athletes (50%), however, at Time 2, athletes (80%) reported significantly greater risk of mental health symptoms than staff (50%). The overall number of participants flourishing decreased from pre-games (43%) to post-games (31%).
Conclusion: Findings have implications for mental health support provision which tends to be athlete focused but might forget about team staff, and to consider both pre-event provision but to also not forget about post-event care.
Method: The Irish Olympic Team comprised of 271 members (116 athletes and 155 team staff). Participants were sent an online survey package 2-weeks pre-games (Time 1) and 4-weeks post-games (Time 2). A total of 98 participants (36% response rate) responded at Time 1, and 70 participants (26% response rate) responded at Time 2. Measures included the Organisational Stressor Indicator for Sport Performers (OSI-SP), the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF), and the Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool-1 (SMHAT-1).
Results: There was a significant inverse association between organisational stressors and mental wellbeing at both Time 1 (𝛽 = -.46), and Time 2 (𝛽 = -.35), and from pre- to post-games (𝛽 = -.48). There was a significant positive association between organisational stressors and risk of mental health symptoms at both Time 1 (𝛽 = .69), and Time 2 (𝛽 = .67), and from pre- to post-games (𝛽 = .34). At Time 1, team staff (75%) reported significantly greater risk of mental health symptoms than athletes (50%), however, at Time 2, athletes (80%) reported significantly greater risk of mental health symptoms than staff (50%). The overall number of participants flourishing decreased from pre-games (43%) to post-games (31%).
Conclusion: Findings have implications for mental health support provision which tends to be athlete focused but might forget about team staff, and to consider both pre-event provision but to also not forget about post-event care.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | The Sport Psychologist |
| Publication status | Acceptance date - 22 Nov 2024 |
