Investigation of Stress Coping Mechanisms and Mental Health among Basketball Club Members of a Girls' High School.

This study was designed to evaluate the mental health of the female basketball club members of a senior high school. All 23 members participated in this survey which consisted of questionnaires covering the POMS, SCI, and OHQ-12 items. The survey was conducted in November 2002. The POMS and SCI results were evaluated according to the students' mental health status assessed in OHQ-12. Those with inadequate mental health condition showed a high score of "Accepting Responsibility" in OHQ-12. In addition, a positive correlation (r=0.434)was found between the "Accepting Responsibility" score and the amount of stress experienced. This shows that it is presumably important to solve problems by adopting not only "Problem-Focused Coping" but also "Emotion-Focused Coping." The results indicate that screening of the group in poor mental condition out of the target athletes and evaluating the ways they address stress are effective in teaching students how to maintain good mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]