Understanding the Occupational Stress of Collegiate Track and Field Coaches during the Championship Season

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate sources of occupational stress for NCAA Division I and Division III track and field coaches during the championship season. The Administrative Stress Index (ASI) measured the perceived occupational stressors, and the Personal Resource Questionnaire (PRQ): Part 2 assessed perceived social support. A total of 67 male and female (44.51 + 10.92 yrs.) experienced (14.75 + 10.00 yrs.) coaches participated. Results indicated that a weak to moderate significant correlation exists between the three subscales of the ASI. A significant negative correlation was found between the PRQ and task-based stress (r = −.244, p < .05). When all three predictors and the interaction of years of experience were entered into the model, the social support (β = −0.259 p = .04) and NCAA Division (β = −0.243 p = .052) were significant predictors of task-based stress. As social support increased, task-based stress decreased.