Key result
Adolescent elite athletes reported significantly lower self-perceived stress and competence-based self-esteem, a more varied diet, and more sleep compared to non-elite adolescents (p<0.001).
Why the study?
The study was conducted to compare subjective correlates of health, including nutrition, self-esteem, sleep, and stress, between adolescent elite athletes and adolescents not involved in elite sports, and to evaluate predictors for self-perceived stress.
Do adolescent elite athletes have different subjective correlates of health compared to adolescents not involved in elite sports?
Cross-Sectional (n=1,016)
Do adolescent elite athletes have different subjective correlates of health compared to adolescents not involved in elite sports?
Effect estimate: Hedges' g 0.31-0.82
p-value: p=<.001
Adolescent elite athletes report better subjective health correlates, including less stress and better sleep, compared to their non-elite peers.
May not alter youth sports guidance; leaves open causality and selection effects in cross-sectional data.
The primary aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare subjective correlates of health, such as nutrition, self-esteem, sleep and stress, between adolescent elite athletes (n = 625) and a reference group of adolescents (n = 391) not involved in elite sports. A secondary aim was to study predictors for self-perceived stress. A questionnaire was e-mailed to all participants containing valid questions about competence-based self-esteem, nutrition, self-perceived stress and sleep. Our results show that adolescent elite athletes reported significantly (p < .001) lower self-perceived stress, competence-based self-esteem, a more varied diet and more time of sleep, compared to adolescents not involved in elite sports (Hedges'g 0.31-0.82). Female adolescent elite athletes and female adolescents, compared to their male peer group, reported poorer values for competence-based self-esteem (elite, Hedges'g 0.29; adolescents, Hedges'g 0.30) and self-perceived stress (elite, Hedges'g 0.63; adolescents, Hedges'g 0.60). The linear mixed effect model revealed several significant (p < .05) predictors (sex, general well-being, competence-based self-esteem, sleep during weekdays, BMI, training volume) associated with self-perceived stress in adolescent elite athletes. In conclusion, differences in correlates of health with a moderate to strong effect sizes were found between the two groups, where elite athletes surprisingly reported less stress, competence-based self-esteem, a more varied diet and more time of sleep. Even if injury risk is high in adolescent elite athletes and pressure from multiple stakeholders is evident, it appears that the athletes still have better conditions for a good subjective health, based on self-reported measures, compared to adolescents not involved in elite sports.
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Rosen et al. (2018) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy adolescents (n=1,016). Elite sports participation vs. Adolescents not involved in elite sports was evaluated on Subjective correlates of health (self-perceived stress, competence-based self-esteem, diet, and sleep) (Hedges' g 0.31-0.82, p=<.001). Adolescent elite athletes reported significantly lower self-perceived stress and competence-based self-esteem, a more varied diet, and more sleep compared to non-elite adolescents (p<0.001).
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