Relationship between Athletic Identity and Stress in Division II College Softball Players

Abstract

Athletic identity (AI) can be defined as how an individual perceives themselves as an athlete. Although there are many resources for athletes when it comes to physical health, resources for mental health and balancing their AI with everyday life is sorely lacking. As a result, an athlete’s level of stress both inside and outside of their athletic career may increase. Stress that is related to high levels of AI can bring forth negative consequences, such as decreased concentration, focus, and poor academic performance, especially in the case of the student-athlete. The purpose of this study was to investigate stress in relation to AI in a Division II female softball team. Softball players (n = 27) completed the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The mean PSS score was 32.39 out of a 40-point scale. The AIMS mean only showed a moderate level of AI (45.61 of 70-point scale). Pearson correlational analysis demonstrated that only a minor association existed between AI and perceived stress, but this correlation was not statistically significant (r = .36, p = .093). Results and implications from this study are discussed as to optimize student-athletes’ mental well-being.