Are “optimistic” student-athletes better at coping with stress?

A recent study led by University of Ottawa psychology professor Patrick Gaudreau suggests that student-athletes with an optimistic outlook may be better equipped to cope with stress.

The study followed 185 Alberta high school students who participate in either swimming or track-and-field at the provincial level. The group found that optimistic student-athletes who took the time to envision their future successes were more confident in their ability to achieve them. They concluded that this led to an increased likelihood of achieving said goals, despite the stressors that stood in their way.

“I think the take-home message is that stress management is extremely important for the life of student-athletes, and it’s something that can be changed quite easily,” Gaudreau said. “They were coping in an active manner, using relaxation strategies, and seeing their issues in a logical way. This in turn gives them a better quality of life in sport and academic.”

An interesting aspect of the study was that students who applied these techniques to only one facet, such as sports, didn’t see the same results across other areas, like school. The techniques needed to be administered separately to different areas of their lives in order to get the same positive results.

Gaudreau is hoping to expand this study to include other sports, and to also see if these strategies can go further in improving the lives of students as a whole.

About the Founder

Dr. Henry Svec

Dr. Henry Svec is a the director of The Stess Vaccine, co-author of The ADHD Fix (www.theadhdfix.com) and a registered psychologist in the Province of Ontario, and licensed psychologist in the State of Michigan. He received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University, and his B.A., B. Ed. and M.Ed. from the University of Western Ontario where he played football for four years and won two National Championships.

Henry is married, with three children. He enjoys fishing and skiing. The Dr. Svec Institute of Psychological Services has offices in London, Windsor, Chatham and Sarnia. The Institute is available to help adults, children and couples of all ages www.drsvec.com.

Dr. Henry Svec has spent the past twenty years helping children and adults with ADHD achieve success by developing tools and strategies to overcome associated obstacles.