SPORT PSYCHOLOGY & COUNSELING
Impact of Life Stressors on Athletes
Joseph L. Spano, MA • Manchester Athletic Club
P SYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS play an impor-
tant role in the occurrence of injury and
recovery from injury.1 After having made
progress in regaining functional capabili-
ties, some athletes face serious problems
in returning to full sport participation. An athlete
may exhibit signs of reinjury, injury to some other
body part, decreased self-confidence or fear/anxiety
about the possibility of reinjury.2 Social support may
be particularly important to injured athletes who are
motivated by peer acceptance and praise from fans
and media.
An athlete’s injury-related anxiety may be com-
pounded by life stressors. At some point in life, 80%
of the population will suffer from clinical depression.3
Relationship demands, mental health problems, work-
related pressures, traffic, and deadlines are common
causes of stress. Some stressors relate to major life
changes, such as losing a loved one, moving to a dif-
ferent town, getting married, experiencing a change
in economic status, etc. Any of these events can
create strong physical and psychological responses.
Athletes face additional stressors, such as maintaining
a starting position, meeting performance goals, and
fulfilling academic requirements. An athlete’s overall
life stress may be exhibited through physiological or
psychological manifestations (Table 1). A high level of
stress may be associated with elevated blood pressure,
muscle tension, early onset of fatigue, or susceptibility
to illness. Athletes with a high level of life stress may
experience more injuries than those with less stress,4
and post-injury rehabilitation may be prolonged.
Microstressors or “daily hassles” may have a
greater overall impact on the well-being of an athlete
than major life stressors that occur less frequently. The
impact of microstressors may be magnified in a highly
Athletic Therapy Today march 2008  41
Adam Naylor, EdD, Report Editor
Table 1. Symptoms of Stress
Physiological Symptoms
Upset stomach
Psychological Symptoms
Insomnia
Headache Anxiety
Sweaty palms Impatience
Nervous habits Anger
Lack of energy Irritability
competitive environment. The athlete who has been
exposed to a number of microstressors may exhibit
both physical and cognitive performance deficiencies.5
Microstressors may present an obstacle to recovery of
pre-injury performances levels. Effective time man-
agement becomes difficult when exposed to a high
level of stress, which may interfere with rehabilitation
compliance.
Many coaches promote the idea that athletes
should forget about everything other than competi-
tion when on the field. Athletes who are experiencing
moderate to major life stress may not be capable of
staying exclusively focused on sport-related concerns.
Sport participation and non-sport life activities may
be addressed by coaches as separate entities, but
athletes cannot ignore life problems. Social support is
a key factor that helps athletes manage stress, which
may counteract an adverse effect of stress on injury
susceptibility.5 The athletic trainer is in a unique posi-
tion to provide much needed social support to injured
athletes. During the process of providing injury care,
there are many opportunities for listening to athletes’
comments about life stresses and to suggest strategies
for stress management.
A high level of stress may be recognized as stiff
body language, extreme mood swings, persistent anger,
© 2008 Human Kinetics - Att 13(2), pp. 41-42
or a short temper. Other subtle indicators might include
lack of effort, showing up late for appointments, or
inappropriate comments. Stressors can be identified
through creation of an open dialogue with an injured
athlete. Asking questions about life activities builds
rapport that may reveal issues interfering with rehabili-
tation. This can be accomplished by asking a question
as simple as “How is school going?” or “What’s new?”
or more personal questions like “How have you been
handling your car problem?” and “Do you feel that your
injury is improving?” Listening carefully to the athlete’s
responses can provide insights that will build a closer
personal relationship, which can provide the athlete
with a strong sense of social support.
Stress management can be integrated into an ath-
lete’s rehabilitation program. Appropriate goal-setting
(i.e., milestones in recovery), time management, and
relaxation skills can reduce stress during the recovery
process. Another important stress management consid-
eration is the injured athlete’s perception of remaining
part of the team, which should be promoted through
attendance at team meetings, practice sessions, and
games. Rehabilitation sessions that are conducted in
close proximity to practice sessions can simultaneously
help to maintain a sense of connection to the team and
adherence to a regular schedule that reinforces time
management skills.
42  March 2008 Athletic Therapy Today
Conclusion
Many athletes feel tremendous pressure to perform to
perfection, while also being subjected to life stressors.
Stress can adversely affect compliance with injury
rehabilitation, thereby delaying restoration of normal
physical capabilities. Athletic trainers and therapists are
in a unique position to recognize the manifestations
of a high level of stress in individual athletes and to
initiate appropriate actions to address it. 
References
1. Brewer B. Developmental Differences in Psychological Aspects of
Sport-Injury Rehabilitation. 2003. Available at: http://www.pubcentral.
nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=164904. Accessed November 14,
2006.
2. Armatas V, Chondrou E, Yiannakos A, Galazoulas Ch, Velkopoulos
C. Psychological aspects of rehabilitation following serious athletic
injuries with special reference to goal setting: A review study. 2007.
Available at: http://ejmas.com/pt/2007pt/ptart_galazoulas_0707.html.
Accessed July 12, 2007.
3. Dobson KS. The relationship between anxiety and depression. Clin
Psychol Rev. 1985;5:307-324.
4. Crust L. Psychological rehabilitation techniques- what psychological
rehabilitation techniques work best in getting an athlete back to full
activity after injury. 2006. Available at: http://www.sportsinjurybulle-
tin.com/archive/psychological-rehabilitation.html. Accessed November
14, 2006.
5. Patterson EL, Smith RE, Everett JJ, Ptacek JT. (1998). Psychosocial
factors as predictors of ballet injuries: interactive effects of life stress
and social support. J Sport Beh. 1998; 21(1).
Joseph L. Spano attended Boston University School of Medicine for
his Masters degree in Mental Health and Behavioral Medicine. He is
the Sport Psychology Consultant for the Manchester Athletic Club and
MAC/Bolletieri Tennis Academy in Manchester, Massachusetts.