Facilitating transition into a high-performance environment: The effect of a stressor-coping intervention program on elite youth rugby league players. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cupples, Balin; O'Connor, Donna; Cobley, Stephen
• Is Part Of: Psychology of sport and exercise. Volume 56(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: Athlete development -- Stress -- Coping -- Psychological support -- Rugby league; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Sports -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Periodicals; Societies, Medical -- Periodicals; Psychology; Sports; Exercise; Societies, Medical; Sports -- Aspect psychologique -- Périodiques; Exercice -- Aspect psychologique -- Périodiques; 613.71019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.101973
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1469-0292

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To facilitate elite youth Rugby League (RL) player transition into a high-performance environment, study objectives were to (i) identify environmental transition demands appraised by players as stressors; (ii) to develop and implement an RL contextualised stressor-coping intervention program; and (iii) evaluate intervention effectiveness in dealing with stressors during transitions experienced by the Under 20's (U20) players. Design: A quasi-experimental design with field-based complimentary multiple-methods. Method: A combination of background literature, 'stressor audit' ( N = 8) and club stakeholder perspective ( N = 6) data were integrated to inform intervention content. U20's youth RL players ( N = 41) at two professional RL clubs then participated in intervention ( n = 21) or control ( n = 20) groups. The intervention group participated in six group-based education sessions, with follow-up focus-groups social validation. Three psychometric questionnaires implemented at three time-points (pre, post & follow-up), examined changes in coping strategy use, coping efficacy and psychological well-being. Results: The stressor audit identified team selection, injury, balancing work/study, and new high-performance environment adjustment as key stressors. Statistical analyses identified significant intervention group (versus controls) interaction effects for enhanced frequency of task-based coping strategy use; disengagement-based coping strategy reductions; and increased efficacy for using problem and emotion-focused coping strategies. No effect for distraction orientated coping, social-support efficacy, or in terms of psychological well-being was apparent. Focus-group data corroborated quantitative findings. Conclusions: The RL context stressor-coping intervention led to specific favourable coping responses, suggesting similar interventions may be beneficial for practitioners/organisations wanting to assist transition into high-performance environments. Highlights: A rugby league contextualised stressor-coping intervention integrating club stakeholders. A multi-method, between-within group design, evaluated effects on coping. Greater task-based coping and a reduction in disengagement-based coping strategies. Identified increase in efficacy for problem and emotion-focused coping strategy use. Contextualised intervention may facilitate transition to the high-performance environment.