The psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on college athletes and their coaches: A qualitative study of a highly performing men’s college soccer program

Abstract

In 2020, COVID-19 became a global phenomenon, significantly impacting facets of life for most communities throughout the world, inclusive of sport. This research study sought to understand the impact of the coronavirus experience (CE) on the psychology of members of an NCAA Division I men’s soccer program by likening it to that of a serious injury – one that not only alters the sport participation of athletes, but also has the potential to influence their mental health and well-being. Based on the integrated model of psychological response to the sport injury and rehabilitation process (Wiese-Bjornstal et al., 1998), this qualitative study revealed four categories of cognitive appraisals (assessing impact, dealing with uncertainty, reframing goals, reframing opportunity), four emotional responses (denial, sadness, frustration, optimism) and three behavioral adaptations (conditioning, socializing, self-care) that were commonly shared by players throughout the pandemic. These responses to the CE were influenced in part by various situational and personal factors unique to each player. Taken together, the findings of this study revealed that the CE disrupted the lives of the players significantly, including psychological stress that centered primarily on players’ inability to express agency over COVID-19 in terms of returning to competitive play. The importance of understanding the impact of the CE on players’ mental health, as well as helping coaches implement trauma-informed practices within the team setting, represent important implications of this research.