Opinions Of Student - Athletes On Dual Career Support And Mental Health Issues

Background: The Athletes Career Centre of the Croatian Olympic Committee (CRO OC) has launched a project aimed at young athletes in secondary schools that offer special conditions and support for athletes. In 11 Croatian secondary schools, from October to December 2023, we conducted a workshop in each school with invited lecturers - sports psychologists and former elite athletes. The aim of this study is to present an analysis of athletes' responses to anonymous questionnaires on dual career support in the athlete environment and mental health issues in competition. Materials and Methods: The anonymous questionnaires were completed by 266 students-athletes aged 14-18 years (148 male and 118 female). Descriptive statistics were made for all analysed variables. Differences between categorised and non-categorised athletes were tested using the Chi2 (χ2) test. If the expected frequency per cell was less than 5 Fisher's exact test was used for all tests, with a significance level of 5% considered statistically significant unless otherwise stated. Results: The sample comprised 195 students- athletes who were not and 71 categorized athletes, of whom 33 were male and 38 females. One third of the athletes (86, 32.33%) had a problem coordinating and successfully fulfilling their school and sports commitments despite attending a school with special regulations for athletes. The most common factors that influence stress during competitions are: expectations from family, friends and teammates (86, 32.33%), fear of defeat (56, 21.05%), fear of opponents (41, 15.41%) and pressure from the coach (27, 19.15%). Conclusion: We expected differences between categorised and non-categorised athletes due to higher engagement and expectations, but we found no significant differences in the observed variable. The most common factors that affect stress during competitions are: expectations from: family, friends and teammates (86, 32.33%), fear of defeat (56, 21.05%), opponents (41, 15.41%) and pressure from the coach (27, 19.15%). We found no significant differences between categorised and non-categorised in the observed variables. By organising mental health workshops in schools for young athletes and their teachers, we strengthen cooperation with schools that adapt and support young athletes and encourage them to create a safe environment for a successful DC in sport.