Abstract
This study aimed to determine the level of stress as measured through different stress measurement methods (DASS questionnaire, SIgA, pulse rate and oxygen saturation). The highest scores for depression, anxiety, stress, pulse rate were before the competition (M=8.365, SD=2.733), (M=8.689, SD=3.962), (M=10.068, SD=3.094), (M=63.27, SD=5.008) respectively. While for salivary IgA and oxygen saturation, the highest score was at resting time (M=112.147, SD=14.431), (M=98.3, SD=1.893) respectively. Descriptive method was used for data collection. Participants were 74 football players of all the first division clubs in Karbala, Iraq, aged between 18-22 years old. Depression, anxiety and stress were measured at three different time points (resting time, before the training, before the competition), while salivary IgA, pulse rate, and oxygen saturation measurement were measured through five different time points (resting time, before the training, after the training, before the competition, after the competition). It can be concluded that the combination of psychological distress and physiological markers can provide accurate measurements of stress.
Highlights
A wide range of factors such as physical fitness, stress, nutrition, game load, injuries and finance have an impact on the performance of footballers (Ivarsson, Johnson & Podlog, 2013)
It is believed that the findings of this article are useful as it can contribute to improving the knowledge of the coaches and football players to deal with stress, by giving an idea if physiological markers can be used to measure stress and can be used in a combination with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) questionnaire to provide more accurate results
Four variables including DASS questionnaire, salivary IgA, pulse rate and oxygen saturation were measured among football players as represented below: Table 2
Summary
A wide range of factors such as physical fitness, stress, nutrition, game load, injuries and finance have an impact on the performance of footballers (Ivarsson, Johnson & Podlog, 2013) This situation put the players under high pressure before and during the game (Dahl, 2013). The majority of the football players especially in Iraq suffer from pre-match stress This situation happens because of hectic playing schedules, high-level competition, expectations of fans and continuous media reports. This is why measurement method of physiological markers such as hormones (cortisol), antibodies (IgA), heart-rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation should be used concurrently upon football players so that their mental health is always on checked. It is believed that the findings of this article are useful as it can contribute to improving the knowledge of the coaches and football players to deal with stress, by giving an idea if physiological markers can be used to measure stress and can be used in a combination with the DASS questionnaire to provide more accurate results
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
