Stress Sources in Handball Elite Players in a National Competition

Abstract

Objective: To determine the level of stress to which handball athletes are subjected in a national competition and observe the sources that cause it.

Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out. The instrument Sources, Symptoms and Stress Coping Strategies (FUSIES) was used in 60 elite handball players between 13 and 37 years old. They participated in the 2019 National Championship.

Results: Among the main results it is evident that the stressor source with the highest extreme scores are academic-labor stressors, injustice of authorities (M = 3.98 ± 1.06), not having vacations (M = 3.35 ± 1.28) and lack of time. (M = 3.35 ± 1.28), in the interpersonal-family stressors it is found not having money (M = 3.50 ± 1.28), loss of something (M = 3.22 ± 1.22), family problems (M = 3.17 ± 1.29) and fighting / argue (M = 3.17 ± 1.29), in environmental stressors excessive heat is located (M = 3.52 ± 1.86), disorder (M = 3.40 ± 1.34), heavy traffic (M = 3.40 ± 1.25), lack of transportation (M = 3.40 ± 1.21) and excessive noise (M = 3.32 ± 1.29) and in other menstruation stressors (M = 3.35 ± 1.24), being sick (M = 3.10 ± 1.28) and staying awake (M = 3.08 ± 1.22).

Conclusions: Enabling strategies for coping with stress should be one of the relevant elements in sports planning. The determinants of stress must be trained during the preseason, season and pre-competition to avoid stressors threatening the sports performance of the players.