Frontiers in Psychology (Aug 2019)

Quality of Life, Depression, Anxiety Symptoms and Mood State of Wheelchair Athletes and Non-athletes: A Preliminary Study

  • Rodrigo Luiz Vancini,
  • Andressa Amato Gomes,
  • Hudson de Paula-Oliveira,
  • Claudio de Lira,
  • Weverton Rufo-Tavares,
  • Marilia Santos Andrade,
  • Karine Jacon Sarro,
  • Martoni Moreira Sampaio,
  • Ricardo Borges Viana,
  • Pantelis Theodoros Nikolaidis,
  • Thomas Rosemann,
  • Beat Knechtle,
  • Beat Knechtle

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01848
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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The present study aims to compare quality of life, depression, anxiety symptoms, and profile of mood state of wheelchair athletes and non-athletes. Thirty-nine basketball and rugby wheelchair athletes (n = 23, nine women, age 36.0 ± 10.0 years; body mass 66.2 ± 13.8 kg; height 170.0 ± 8.5 cm) and non-athletes (n = 16, 4 women, 39.0 ± 14.2 years; body mass 79.6 ± 17.2 kg; height 170.0 ± 6.4 cm) were recruited. Quality of life, anxiety and depressive symptoms and mood disorders were evaluated by the Medical Outcomes Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory and Profile of Mood State questionnaire, respectively. Comparison between groups (non-athletes vs. athletes) was performed using Student’s t-test for independent samples. No differences (p > 0.05) were found between non-athletes vs. athletes regards to quality of life, depressive and anxiety symptoms and profile of mood state. Overall, non-athletes and athletes presented medium anxiety symptoms and mild to moderate depressive symptoms. In conclusion, the wheelchair athletes and non-athletes presented similar quality of life, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and profile of mood state.

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