Self-compassion and Stress Management Among University Female Athletes
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
The main objective of the study is to ascertain the Self-compassion and stress management among university female athletes. The specific objectives are;
- To find out the effect of self-kindness on stress management among university female athletes
- To find out the effect of shared/common humanity on stress management of university female athlete
- To find out the effect of mindfulness on stress management of university female athletes
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Self-compassion
The definition of ‘‘self-compassion’’ is related to the more general definition of ‘‘compassion.’’ Compassion involves being touched by the suffering of others, opening one’s awareness to others’ pain and not avoiding or disconnecting from it, so that feelings of kindness toward others and the desire to alleviate their suffering emerge (Wispe, 1991). It also involves offering nonjudgmental understanding to those who fail or do wrong, so that their actions and behaviors are seen in the context of shared human fallibility. Self-compassion, therefore, involves being touched by and open to one’s own suffering, not avoiding or disconnecting from it, generating the desire to alleviate one’s suffering and to heal oneself with kindness. Self-compassion also involves offering nonjudgmental understanding to one’s pain, inadequacies and failures, so that one’s experience is seen as part of the larger human experience. While many psychological theories assume that individuals are primarily selfinterested, having more concern for themselves than for others (see Miller, 1999, for a review), common experience suggests people are often much harsher and unkind toward themselves than they ever would be to others they cared about, or even to strangers. While such severity toward oneself may sometimes stem from a fear of egotism, self-indulgence, or self-centeredness (Rubin, 1975), being compassionate toward oneself does not entail being self-centered. Instead, self-compassion tends to enhance feelings of compassion and concern for others. Self-compassion entails seeing one’s own experience in light of the common human experience, acknowledging that suffering, failure, and inadequacies are part of the human condition, and that all people—oneself included—are worthy of compassion. Less judgment of oneself also allows for less judgment of others, as comparisons between oneself and others are not needed to enhance or defend self-esteem. Compassion is not extended to oneself because one is superior or more deserving than others, rather, it is done precisely because the individual recognizes his or her interconnectedness and equality with others (Brown, 1999). Thus, feeling compassion for oneself is similar to feeling forgiveness for oneself. Enright remarks that when we forgive, ‘‘we welcome the other into the human community; we see each other as equally worthy of respect’’ (Enright, Freedman, & Rique, 1998, p. 49.) Likewise, having self-compassion entails forgiving one’s failings and foibles, respecting oneself as a fully human—and therefore limited and imperfect—being. Some may fear that having too much self-compassion leads to passivity, but this should not be the case when feelings of self-compassion are genuine. While having self-compassion requires that one does not harshly criticize the self for failing to meet ideal standards, it does not mean that one’s failings go unnoticed or unrectified.
CHAPTER THREE
Research methodology
Research Design
The research design adopted in this research work is the survey research design which involves the usage of self-designed questionnaire in the collection of data. Under the survey research design, primary data of this study will be collected from selected female athlete in University of Lagos State in order to determine self-compassion and stress management among university female athletes. The design was chosen because it enables the researcher to collect data without manipulation of any variables of interest in the study. The design also provides opportunity for equal chance of participation in the study for respondents.
Population of Study
The population of study is the census of all items or a subject that possess the characteristics or that have the knowledge of the phenomenon that is being studied (Asiaka, 1991). It also means the aggregate people from which the sample is to be drawn.
Population is sometimes referred to as the universe. The population of this research study will be Seventy-five (75) selected female athlete in University of Lagos state
Sample Size and Sampling Techniques
The researcher made use of stratified sampling technique because all the members have the same probability of occurrence. The researcher narrowed down the samples to selected female athlete in University of Lagos State in order to determine self-compassion and stress management among university female athletes.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
This chapter is about the analysis and presentation of data collected from the field through questionnaire. The analysis of the data with particular question immediately followed by the presentation of findings.
As mentioned in chapter three, 63 questionnaires were administered and 50 were retrieved and necessary analysis was carried out on them.
Data Presentation
This is the presentation of the quantitative data collected from the respondents through the questionnaire drawn-tabulation and percent (%) age will be used to analyze the data accordingly
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain Self-compassion and stress management among university female athletes. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of Self-compassion and stress management among university female athletes.
Summary
This study was on Self-compassion and stress management among university female athletes. Three objectives were raised which included: To find out the effect of self-kindness on stress management among university female athletes, to find out the effect of shared/common humanity on stress management of university female athlete and to find out the effect of mindfulness on stress management of university female athletes. The total population for the study is 75 selected female athletes in University of Lagos state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
Competitive sport creates multiple demands on athletes across contexts and time, producing a variety of physical, cognitive, and emotional experiences associated with the many opportunities of potential threat, loss, and gain (Hanin, 2010; Lazarus, 2000; Uphill & Jones, 2012). The research demonstrated that self-compassion is an important construct to investigate in the sport domain, particularly in managing negative events that typically present difficulties in coping among women athletes. The support for the effectiveness of self-compassion as a resource to assist athletes in successful adaptation provides justification for further investigation in pursuit of healthy and successful sport experiences.
Recommendation
Overall, this research suggests that self-compassion has important links with the stress process in women university athletes. This provides further support for the contention that self-compassion may be a useful resource in the sport domain. Examining the feasibility and effectiveness of self-compassion-promotion programs in sport would be useful in evaluating potential for application in managing experiences not only related to setback, failure, and evaluation but also with promoting and navigating success.
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