Stress levels and coping mechanisms of basketball players during the economical crisis in Lebanon and the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Since 2019, Lebanon’s serious economic crisis and COVID-19 pandemic have greatly aggravated the basic living conditions of its residents. Indeed, their layover effects have even affected Lebanese athletes, specifically basketball players as they experienced salary cut offs and the cancellation of all sporting tournaments and training practices. When experiencing such crises, there are several effects on the entire society, including athletes. These not only lead to tangible losses, but also leave behind mental repercussions, with stress as a prominent feature. When athletes are faced with a stressful scenario, they will rely largely on their coping strategies to adapt and make sense of the situation. The current study explores the mental health repercussions that the pandemic and the economic crises had on basketball players, and the coping mechanisms used by these players. A mixed methods study was conducted to explore the abovementioned constructs, using two questionnaires and a semi-structured interview. Fifty basketball players took part of the study, and the research highlighted that indeed, stress was a consequence of the crises, however, other mental health difficulties emerged. Also, the research highlighted the use of positive and functional coping mechanisms from athletes. The current research’s implications and future research directions are then discussed.