Psychological Differences between Individual and Team Sport Players: A Comparative Study
Abstract
Psychological factors significantly influence athletic performance, with hopelessness—characterized by negative expectations about the future—affecting athletes' mental well-being and ability to cope with challenges. This study examines differences in hopelessness levels between individual and team sport athletes, considering the impact of competition structure, social support, and performance accountability. The research was conducted on 120 male athletes (60 individual and 60 team sport athletes) aged 17 to 27, selected from Haryana-based universities. Participants had podium finishes in intercollegiate competitions in wrestling, judo, boxing (individual sports) and hockey, football, basketball (team sports). Data were collected using the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), a 20-item self-report instrument with strong validity and reliability.
The study utilized survey and observation methods for data collection, with statistical analysis including mean, standard deviation, and t-tests to assess differences in hopelessness levels. Results indicated that individual sport athletes had a slightly higher mean hopelessness score (7.78) than team sport athletes (7.10). However, the t-statistic (1.0778) did not exceed the critical t-value (1.987), and the p-value (0.2855) was greater than the 0.05 significance threshold. The 95% confidence interval (-0.59 to 1.95) included zero, confirming no statistically significant difference between the two groups.
These findings suggest that the type of sport (individual or team) does not significantly influence hopelessness levels among athletes. While individual sport athletes may experience greater psychological pressure and isolation, the difference is not substantial enough to be statistically meaningful. Factors such as personality traits, coping mechanisms, and external support systems may play a more critical role in shaping athletes' psychological well-being. The study highlights the need for tailored psychological interventions to address mental health challenges in both individual and team sport athletes, promoting overall well-being and performance.
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