International Journal of Sport, Exercise and Health Research 2023; 7(1): 24-29 ; DOI:10.31254/sportmed.7105
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Athletes Participating in the 2022 Masters Field Hockey World Cup
Karen Croteau1 , Nina Eduljee2 , Laurie Murphy3 , John Rosene4 , Mario Munoz5
1. Department of Sport & Exercise Science, Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, Standish, ME, USA
2. Department of Psychology, Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, Standish, ME, USA
3. Department of Business, Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, Standish, ME, USA
4. Department of Exercise & Sport Performance, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, USA
5. Department of Kinesiology, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, USA
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 31st May, 2023 / Accepted: 21st June, 2023
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted lifestyle behaviors and health of masters athletes throughout the world. Aims and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diet, physical activity, and health (physical, mental, social) of athletes participating in the 2022 Masters Field Hockey World Cup. Materials and Methods: A total of 391 participants (mean age = 56.83+9.83 years) completed the 35-item Health and Well-being of Masters Hockey Athletes Survey. Results: Respondents felt that the COVID-19 pandemic had either no impact/improvement respectively, on their diet (72%/18%), physical activity (55%/30%), and physical health (63%/21%), while reporting either no impact or declines in mental health (67%/24%) and social health (62%/31%). A one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) indicate greater negative impacts in mental health among some younger age groups versus older age groups. Open-ended responses to other impacts of COVID-19 support the finding that participants experienced negative impacts of COVID-19 on their mental and social health. Alternatively, participants reported their overall health to be very good to excellent (80%) and stress to occur rarely or sometimes (79%) by the time of the World Cup events. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on the diet, physical activity and physical health of 2022 World Cup Field Hockey athletes whilst having a negative impact on their mental and social health. As such, future support for the mental and social health of masters field hockey athletes is warranted.
Masters athlete, Diet, Physical activity, Physical health, Mental health, Social health
