A Comparative Study Of Depression Among Gmale Athletic Students In Individual/team Sports Versus Non-athletic Students At Islamic Azad University In Karaj

Introduction

The aim of this study is to compare and analyze the level of depression among male athletic students in individual/team sports versus non-athletic students. The participants were 120 non-athletic students and 60 athletic students practicing volleyball, basketball, football, and handball and 60 athletic students practicing tae kwon do, badminton, and climbing. The athletic students had been practicing regularly three times a week for three years.

To compare and analyze the level of depression among the subjects, the standardized Aron Bek Questionnaire was used. The study, therefore, is of a descriptive type.

Results

The data obtained were then analyzed using the T-Student method for independent groups at 5% level of significance. The results showed that there was a significant difference in depression levels between non-athletic students of individual/team sports at p=5%. The depression levels were found to be remarkably higher in non-athletic students. There was no significant difference between athletic students in individual sports versus the ones in team sports.

Discussion/ Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that it is possible to control or reduce depression through regular practice in one’s favorite sport. Further research is required to be carried out in order to specify the effects of doing different sports-individual or team, aerobic or anaerobic.

Key Words:depression, physical exercise, athletic, non-athletic

References

[1]. Yosefi,Bahram.Depression among sport man,(train versus untrain).Tehran university.1991.

[2]. Heidaritabar,Hamid. Comparing the depression amount in male athletes.Tehran.1995.