Road to Tokyo Paralympic Games: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mood States of Brazilian Para Athletes.

Abstract

Context: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the world of sports due to the imposed quarantine and the postponement of regional, national, and international sporting events, which affected physical, socioeconomic, and psychological aspects of athletes. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate changes in the mood state profile of Brazilian Para athletes at 2 different time points during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically during their qualification for the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Design: This study used a longitudinal study design.

Methods: The study included 83 Brazilian Para athletes from 14 sports, with a mean age of 34.64 (9.27) years, who were evaluated at 2 moments (March 2020 and April 2021) during the qualification period for the "Road to Tokyo Paralympic Games." The online survey included questions about disability, sport, and experience; the 24-item Brunel Mood Scale questionnaire; and a question about the athlete's perception of whether or not they had a chance of qualifying for the Tokyo Paralympics in April 2021.

Results: Para athletes had significantly higher vigor scores in 2021 than in 2020, with a medium effect size (z = -3.454, P < .001). In addition, Para athletes who perceived themselves as nonqualified for the Tokyo 2021 Paralympics Games had higher scores for depression (U = 409,000, z = -2397, P = .017) and tension (U = 425,000, z = -2194, P = .017) in 2021 when compared with those who perceived that they had qualified. There were no differences between men and women.

Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly negatively impacted the mood of Brazilian Para athletes, especially those who perceived themselves as nonqualified for the Tokyo Paralympic Games. Para athletes in team sports exhibited higher potential symptoms of depression compared with those in individual sports.