Importance of stress self-management in university athletes during the health emergency in Peru

Abstract

During the COVID-19 emergency, university athletes in Peru faced academic and psychosocial stressors that affected their mental health and performance, needing the development of self-regulation skills.

Objective: To determine the importance of self-control in managing stress among university athletes.

Method: Quantitative, analytical, quasi-experimental study with pretest and posttest in 40 student-athletes during the second quarter of 2023. A seven-items questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale, locally adapted, was administered. After the pretest, an educational video presenting self-control techniques (breath control and coping strategies) was shown. The posttest was administered three weeks later, that is, the  Hypotheses: H₀ (no difference) vs H₁ (with difference), α ≤ 0.05. Data were processed in Excel and the analysis performed using Student’s t-test.

Results: The results are consistent with the literature about brief self-regulation interventions; factors such as resilience, self-esteem, and social support modulate effectiveness. In combining sports planning, digital tools, and multifactorial approaches, the following results were obtained: pretest mean 109.71 (intermediate stress, range 94–146); posttest mean 78.57 (low stress, range 40–93). Mean difference was 31.14 points; similar standard deviations. P = 0.0098 (<0.05), null hypothesis rejected. The intervention significantly reduced perceived stress, although some items showed minor changes.Conclusions: Furthermore, self-control allows university athletes to reduce stress levels from moderate to low. It is recommended to integrate institutional programs with practical techniques and ongoing follow-up.