A qualitative exploration of the influence of high lifetime stressor exposure on sports performers interpretations of daily life stressors

Research has found that lifetime stressor exposure increases the risk for mental and physical health problems. Although important, previous research has predominantly used self-report questionnaires, which only assess stressor exposure at a single point in time. To address this limitation, we used a longitudinal study design to explore how historical exposure to high lifetime stress influences sport performers’ interpretations of, and responses to, daily life stressors. We identified participants in the top 10% of lifetime stressor count and severity, as assessed by the Stress and Adversity Inventory and the Sport Stress Assessment Module. 298 sport performers (153 male; Mage = 30.71 years, SD = 13.31) completed these measures, and seven participants (3 female; Mage = 31.86 years, SD = 8.65) who had experienced high lifetime stress completed daily audio diaries for a 28-day period about their interpretations of, and responses to, daily life stressors. We analyzed the data using interpretative phenomenological analysis and identified six group experiential themes: (1) hyperfixation; (2) disproportionate responses to stressors; (3) self-reliance leading to social isolation; (4) unrealistically high expectations of self and others; (5) overly empathetic to others; and (6) hypervigilance to future stressors. This study extends prior research by utilizing daily audio diaries to capture longitudinal data, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of how historical exposure to stressors influence responses to daily life stressors. Consequently, practitioners can use these findings to educate sport performers on utilizing more adaptive responses to acute daily life stressors.
We used a longitudinal design to explore how historical exposure to stressors influences responses to daily stressors. Sport performers responded by hyperfixating, engaging in self-reliance, having high expectations, being overly empathetic and being hypervigilant. Results offer important implications for supporting sport performers in utilizing more adaptive responses to daily stressors.

Interventions should foster a sense of community among sport performers by building resonance and reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Sport performers should be directed toward prioritizing their mental health and well-being vs. short-term gains (e.g., increased productivity).
Video narratives are a novel and alternative way to implement stress management techniques to help sport performers appraise, manage, and deal with stressors more effectively.

Interventions should foster a sense of community among sport performers by building resonance and reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Sport performers should be directed toward prioritizing their mental health and well-being vs. short-term gains (e.g., increased productivity).
Video narratives are a novel and alternative way to implement stress management techniques to help sport performers appraise, manage, and deal with stressors more effectively.