Moderating role of life skills for stress responses and COVID-19-related perceived stressors among high school student-athletes

This study aimed to investigate whether life skills could be negative predictors of stress responses in high school student-athletes and moderators of a relationship between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related stressors and stress responses during the pandemic. A survey was conducted from July to August 2020, and 1528 (717 females and 811 males) high school students, who belonged to sport clubs in Japanese public high schools, participated. The Stressors for Athletes During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Stress Response Scale for Athletes, and the Daily Life Skills Scale were used to assess COVID-19-related stressors, stress responses, and life skills, respectively. The results showed that three factors of personal life skills—planning, self-esteem, and positive thinking—and one factor of interpersonal life skills—intimacy—were significant negative predictors of stress responses. In contrast, COVID-19-related stressors and one factor of interpersonal life skills—leadership—were significant positive predictors. Furthermore, positive thinking moderated the relationship between stressors and stress responses. The findings suggest the need for educators and practitioners to consider effective life skills in challenging situations, to provide fruitful life skills programs for student-athletes.