The comparison of psychological characteristics of pregnant elite and non-elite athletes

Pregnancy is one of the stressful periods for women, and elite female athletes may become anxious when pregnant. The aim of the present study was to compare the psychological characteristics of pregnant elite and non-elite athletes. Among female athletes with different competitive levels and according to the inclusion criteria, ۱۱۷ athletes (۴۸ elite and ۶۹ non-elite) were selected as the statistical sample of the research. Personal information form and DASS- ۲۱ questionnaire were used to collect data. The results of MANOVA showed that there was no significant difference between elite and non-elite female athletes in any of the variables of anxiety, stress and depression (p ۰.۰۱۶), and the anxiety of both groups was higher than other variables. In general, it can be said that pregnancy is a period that can cause anxiety in women, and to reduce the anxiety of pregnant women, athletes should look for appropriate mental and physical solutions.