Comparison of sensation seeking and self-esteem with mental health in professional and amateur athletes, and non- athletes

The main goal of this study was comparison of sensation seeking and self-esteem with mental health in professional and amateur athletes, and non- athletes in Arak city. The study samples were 150 professional and amateur athletes and non-athletes of Arak city in 2008, selected by simple random sampling method. The study design was reasonal-comparative. Professional and amateur athletes and non- athletes were as independent variables and sensation seeking, self-esteem, and mental health were as dependent variables. Zukerman's sensation seeking, Coppersmith's self-esteem, and Goldberg's mental health questionnaires were used to collect research data. Analysis of variance and post hoc LSD test were used for statistical analysis. Results showed that there was a significant difference among study groups in self-esteem, sensation seeking and mental health (p < 0/01). The Professional athletes had the highest self-esteem, sensation seeking and mental health. The amateur athletes had also better situation in the respect of these characteristic than those of non-athletes. The negative significant correlation was observed among self-esteem, sensation seeking and physical symptoms, anxiety level, social performance disorder and depression level (p < 0/01).