Comparison of psychological constructs among Mexican athletes participating in the National Inter-Polytechnic University Games, Durango, 2016

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare selected psychological constructs of Mexican male and female athletes of individual and team sports who participated in the National Inter-Polytechnic Games in Durango, México, 2016. One hundred and ninety eight athletes completed a questionnaire about burnout syndrome, sports climate, depression, somatic anxiety, cognitive anxiety, and self-esteem. Results indicated a higher number of men in individual sports and women in team sports with less burnout risk (χ2 = 16.71, p < 0.001), but with low self-esteem (χ2 = 20.76, p < 0.001). No significant interactions were found between sports and gender variables for age, general burnout, sports climate, overall self-esteem, confidence, and body satisfaction (p > 0.05). Women had lower mean depression scores than men (45.34 ± 9.42 vs. 47.66 ± 7.64, p = 0.025). Athletes in team sports had lower scores in somatic anxiety than individual sports athletes (13.83 ± 4.51 vs. 14.70 ± 4.94, p = 0.018), and men had lower somatic anxiety scores than women (13.22 ± 4.29 vs. 14.76 ± 4.83, p = 0.002). In conclusion, women showed higher cognitive anxiety scores than men and both showed similarities and differences in psychological constructs related to sports performance during the university sport competition.