UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA(UNISA)
PYC 4804- Personology
PSYCHOLOGICAL QUESTIONNAIRE FOR ASSESSING THE MENTAL HEALTH STATE OF
ATHLETES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
QUESTIONNAIRE FORMULATED
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PERSONOLOGY 4804 ASSIGNMENT 2
, 2
Q UESTIONNAIRE SCENARIO
You, a Sports Psychologist are approached by ASA (Athletics South Africa) a national governing body for sports
of athletics in South Africa. They are concerned with the impact of the covid pandemic might have on the
athletes’ mental health. They are looking to assess the athletes that are competing at the national and
international level with some of the athletes that will represent the South African Team at the Olympics in Tokyo
2021
Due to the impact of Covid-19, many athletic events have been cancelled including the Olympics 2020. This has
had a devastating effect on mental health status all around the world. The ASA committee shows a concern that
the athletes may have experienced failure, disappointment, a loss of directions and purpose during this time,
they state that the athletes put a lot of time and money in to achieve a level of excellence and made many
sacrifices, to have this suddenly stop impacts there physical and mental states.
With competitions back with a very full calendar and Olympics approaching soon ASA wants to ensure that the
athletes are mentally prepared despite the erupted season that caused a lot of stress for athletes with the
uncertainty of the athletic career.
The questionnaire measures the Psychological maturity of an athlete and finding meaning in their daily life. To
overcome difficult times and their attitude towards adversity. The Questionnaire also looks at any form of
hostility or anxiety in athletes that might have surfaced during these uncertain times.
The questionnaire is based on two theorist Victor Frankl and Karen Horney
Victor Frankl’s existential theory is used to measure the psychological maturity of an individual. Man needs to
find a purpose rather than striving for pleasure and power. Frankl continued with humans being self-
transcendent, this means we have the freedom to take responsibility for our actions. Once we rise above our
actions and doing something to change our behaviour, we can become the best versions of ourselves. Frank
introduced Logotherapy; the freedom of the will, the will to meaning, the meaning of life. Optimally developed
individuals can choose one’s attitude in a situation that he is unable to change. The individual is primarily
motivated by the will to find meaning and can attach meaning to suffering, guilt.
Athletes that compete at a high-level experience a great deal of stress, maturity is an important aspect to
manage their mental health. They should find a meaning and a purpose in what they do daily and not just strive
for power and place their identity in winning. It is important for athletes to still show a positive attitude through
this difficult time of grief and loss and not to let their circumstances affect their training and future competitions.
Karen Horney made significant contributions to humanism, self-psychology, psychoanalysis, and feminine
psychology. Horney proceeds from the optimistic view of humanity, she believes that individuals can consciously
change and shape their personalities and not just victims of their past. Horney states that the personality is
geared towards constructive growth known as the growth principle an individual will develop his or her
unique potential. Horney acknowledges the components of the personality. She makes a distinction between an
idealised, actual self and the real self. Horney was also very well known for her study of neurotic personality.
Her definition of neurosis is a maladaptive way of dealing with relationships. A person’s development can be
facilitated or hampered by the interactions of the environment. When basics needs are not fulfilled as a child or
negative factors in the environment, a child will act with basic hostility or basic anxiety. Both hostility and anxiety
are repressed unconsciously, they may manifest themselves as neurotic needs. Horney's theory states how
people react in different situations. Acting against people they come across as dominant, demanding, selfish,
PERSONOLOGY 4804 ASSIGNMENT 2
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