Changes in Quality of Life Among Collegiate Athletes During COVID-19

Abstract

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant effect on the mental health of athletes. How this has affected quality of life (QoL), specifically in the college population, is poorly defined.

Hypothesis:

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental and physical QoL will have decreased in collegiate athletes as compared with before the pandemic.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Level of Evidence:

Level 3.

Methods:

Division I athletes from a total of 23 varsity teams at a single institution completed surveys between 2018 and 2022. QoL was assessed using the Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12). VR-12 scores were separated into mental component scores (MCS) and physical component scores (PCS). Separate linear mixed effects models evaluated changes in MCS and PCS from pre-COVID to during COVID overall, as well as differences in changes by sex and sport type (individual, team).

Results:

For all athletes, the PCS increased (54.6 [95% CI 54.4-54.7] vs 55.1 [54.9-55.3]; P < 0.01) and the MCS decreased (55.2 [54.9-55.5] vs 53.5 [53.1-53.8]; P < 0.01) from pre-COVID to during COVID. When evaluating for sex, women demonstrated a greater increase in PCS (0.57 ± 0.22; P = 0.01) and greater decrease in MCS (1.06 ± 0.38; P < 0.01). With respect to sport type, individual sports demonstrated a greater decrease in MCS (1.46 ± 0.39; P < 0.01), but no interaction was identified for PCS (0.42 ± 0.23; P = 0.07).

Conclusion:

Collegiate athletes demonstrated a decrease in their self-reported mental QoL during the COVID-19 pandemic, as compared with before the pandemic. This effect was most evident in women and in individual sports. Athletes also reported an increase in physical QoL during COVID that was also larger in women, but not related to sport.

Clinical Relevance:

This study demonstrates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on collegiate athletes’ QoL, including negative effects on mental health. It also identifies cohorts of athletes (women, individual) who may be more significantly affected.