Examination of Anger Prevalence in NCAA Division I Student-Athletes

Authors

Robert Madden, University of South CarolinaFollow
Zachary K. Winkelmann, University of South CarolinaFollow
Samantha R. Weber, University of South CarolinaFollow
Erin M. Moore, University of South FloridaFollow
Toni M. Torres-McGehee, University of South CarolinaFollow

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25035/jsmahs.06.03.01

Abstract

Purpose: Anger associated with sports participation may affect inability to acutely process anger, may decrease performance and increase the likelihood of risk-taking behavior in collegiate athletes. Therefore, the purpose was to examine the prevalence of anger in collegiate student-athletes across sex, academic status, and sport type. Methods: A cross sectional study over a three-year period examined 759 NCAA Division I student-athletes at one institution (age=20±1 years; males: n=259; females: n=500) completed an optional pre-participation behavioral health screening questionnaire, personal demographic information and the Anger Index Self-Test. Results: Overall, 37.2% (n=282/759; males=127/259, 49.0%; females=155/500, 31.0%) of participants were at high-risk for anger. We identified a significant difference between the anger and sex [Χ²(2, N=759) =28.1, P≤0.01]. We also identified a significant difference between the anger and sport type [Χ²(8, N=759)=32.1, P≤0.01] with 55.2% (n=419/759) at moderate risk for anger despite sport type; with the highest percentages presenting high-risk for anger within power sports (n= 64/116, 55.2%) and ball sports (n=98/240, 40.8%). No significant differences were identified for anger risk and academic status (P=0.66). Conclusions: Female collegiate student-athletes demonstrated a higher prevalence of anger than male collegiate student-athletes, yet more males were high-risk. Most student-athletes displayed moderate-risk for anger across different sports. Anger across academic status was not significantly different implying that anger management and coping skills may need to be taught during their student-athlete tenure to mitigate the identified risk. A collegiate student-athlete’s inability to process anger may affect sports performance and have negative consequences on their personal and social life. A primary prevention mechanism exists to explore proper coping mechanisms for anger during sport before the onset of mental health conditions that could exacerbate the experience for the individual.

Recommended Citation

Madden, Robert; Winkelmann, Zachary K.; Weber, Samantha R.; Moore, Erin M.; and Torres-McGehee, Toni M. (2021) "Examination of Anger Prevalence in NCAA Division I Student-Athletes," Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association: Vol. 6: Iss. 3, Article 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25035/jsmahs.06.03.01
Available at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/jsmahs/vol6/iss3/1