INFLUENCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS ON FOOTBALL INJURIES

A wide body of research 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 only limited knowledge about 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 (Petrie TA and Perna F., 2004). 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 different age groups : 52 players aged 18-25 yrs, 32 players aged 26-35 yrs, 16 players aged 36-45 yrs. The method used for 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 these questionnaires-specific scales. Factor analysis of the data was performed on the questionnaires data and the matrixes of correlation were tested with Principal Components (Oblimin Rotation) using SPSS v 13.0 (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). Factor analysis simplified the variables, in order to have a limited numbers of factors, and the most significantes 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 in adults. It 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) Most of them are active for more than ten years. Anatomical distribution showed that most prevalent injuries were muscle and ankle strains (68%). The most injuried anatomical structure were ligaments followed by tendons. We have found significant statistical correlation between Big Five factors and Stai ( R 0.58 P<0.01 ) and between muscle injuries and 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, Engebretsen L.,Bahr R. 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 • Petrie TA, Perna F. Psychology of injury: theory, research and practice. In Sport psychology: theory, applications and issues. John Willey &Sons, 2004