INFLUENCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS ON FOOTBALL INJURIES

INTRODUCTION: Current literature demonstrates that injury may have important psychological implications for competitive athletes including disruptions in mood state, a loss of positive social identity and uncertainties regarding the prospects of a return to pre-injury competitive levels. However, there is limited knowledge on the influence of psychological factors on football injuries. The aim of this study was to examine how much an injury-prone personality profile and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder can influence the risk of injury in adult football players. A self-administered questionnaire inquired about the anxiety disorders as well as personality traits. METHOD: A population of 100 football players was divided into 3 groups: 52 players aged 18-25 yrs, 32 players aged 26-35 yrs, 16 players aged 36- 45 yrs. Data gathering was based on an epidemiological questionnaire, the Big Five Questionnaire (Caprara, et al, 1993) and the Stai -Trait Anxiety Inventory with subscales Y-1 and Y-2 (Spielberger, et al, 1968). The participants were asked to rate questions using testspecific scales. Factor analysis of the data was performed and the matrixes of correlation were tested with Principal Components (Oblimin Rotation) using SPSS software (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). Factor analysis simplified the variables, and the most significant ones were interpreted. The Big Five broad factors (dimensions) of personality traits are: Extraversion -Agreeableness - Conscientiousness – Neuroticism-Openness to Experience The STAI Form Y measures anxiety and clearly differentiates between the temporary condition of “state anxiety” and the more general and long-standing quality of “trait anxiety”. RESULTS: Our football players were mainly midfielders (39) and defenders (31), with most active for > 10 yrs. Clinical examination revealed that most prevalent injuries were muscle and ankle strains (68%) and most injuried anatomical structures were ligaments followed by tendons. Big Five factors and Stai were significantly correlated (R 0.58 P<0.01 ) and also muscle-tendon strains with Stai Trait Inventory. DISCUSSION: There is a growing realisation that psychological factors, such as stress and anxiety, may also play a role in the frequency and extent of injury. The findings support suggestions that psychological measures have utility in predicting football injuries, as confirmed also for their validity in predicting injuries in elite athletes (Ivarsson et al. 2010). References: A. Holme, et al, Risk factors for injuries in football. Am J Sports Med, 2004 Ivarsson A., Johnson U., Psychological factors as predictors of injuries among senior soccer players. A prospective study. JSSM, 2010