European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science ISSN: 2501 - 1235 ISSN-L: 2501 - 1235 Available on-line at: www.oapub.org/edu 10.6084/m9.figshare.3382780 Volume 1│Issue 2│2016 THE COMPARISON OF SINGLE-FIELD AND TEAM ATHLETES AND NON-ATHLETIC STUDENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH IN TARBIAT MODARES UNIVERSITY Siavash Khodaparast Sareshkeh1*, Sajjad Soleimani Keshayeh1, Vahid Bakhshalipour1, Majid Keramati Moghadam2 Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Lahijan Branch, 1 Islamic Azad University, Guilan, Lahijan, Iran M.Sc Sport Psychology, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran 2 Abstract: The purpose this study is to compare the mental health of single-field and team athletes, non-athletes, and MA with Ph.D. students. To this end 135 single-field athletes and 69 team athletes who were all students were selected as sample. The methodology adopted is causative-comparative and field work. The research population consists of all the students in Tarbiat Modares University. The population of its non-athletes is 6032 and that of athletes 298. On the basis of Morgan table, 680 non-athletes and 204 athletes who were in the university team were selected as the statistical sample. The instrument used in this study was General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). The statistical analysis used to compare groups was Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whittney U was used for two by two comparisons of groups. The results show there is no significant difference between the mental health scales of the single-field and team athletes. The single-field athletes in all scales and team athletes in general mental health scale and physical signs/social function disorder differed significantly from non-athletes in a way that single-field athletes and team athletes appeared to be mentally more healthy than non-athletes. Compare other MA and Ph.D. students in their mental health. Results revealed a significant difference between the groups in their general mental health and the two subscales of physical signs and social function disorder in a way that Ph.D. students turned out to have more mental health than M.A students. Keywords: mental health, MA athletes, athletes, single-field and sport activities Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved Published by Open Access Publishing Group ©2015. 85 Siavash Khodaparast Sareshkeh, Sajjad Soleimani Keshayeh, Vahid Bakhshalipour, Majid Keramati MoghadamTHE COMPARISON OF SINGLE-FIELD AND TEAM ATHLETES AND NON-ATHLETIC STUDENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH IN TARBIAT MODARES UNIVERSITY Introduction In past decades, huge changes were in the industrial world and considerably surround the lifestyle of many human communities. This has caused people to reduce physical activities, and have problems and diseases such as obesity, muscle weakness, cardiovascular and respiratory disease. However, due to developments on the world health situation there is less risks to face this kind of problems. The considerable problem is emergence and growth of mental disorders (Park, Patton and Kim, 2010). This is very import particularly in Graduate students. However, students often chosen people of the community and important role are considered of them in the structure of many social, cultural and economic, but several studies show that students also have a variety of disorders and emotional problems (Nariman, Akbarzadeh and Hamzeh, 2010). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), someone who is not having a mental health is not considered healthy. This message also is confirmed by Pan American Health Organization and World Federation of Mental Health (Rajmil et al., 2010). Purpose of mental health is the certain aspects such as human intelligence, mind and thought. According to someone has mental health, that who has no symptoms of anxiety and disability, able to establish communication with others and able to deal with the pressures of life (Kamau, 2012). On the other hand, research and studies in the field of psychology and sport has shown that exercise and physical activity is one of the most effective methods to prevention and treatment of mental diseases. McConville (2003) detected nine factors in creating the welfare and mental health, that one of the most important factors is doing sport and physical activity. Benton and Terry Levi (1997) have shown that participation in physical activity and increasing cardio-vascular preparation are seen an important factor in improving mental health and temperament. Ruth and Holmes (1985) observed that, students were engaged in physical sports compared with less physical activity have less health problems related to stress and symptoms of depression. Falking and Sime (1981) believe that an anaerobic exercise is effective in removing anxiety and depression and general psychological discomfort. Narimani (2007) compared mental health (physical symptoms, anxiety, depression and dysfunction) of students in individual and team athletes with non-athletic and found out the amount of social dysfunction of team sports athletes than individual athletes and non-athletic and depression in non-athletes was more than two other groups. Also comparing each of the subscales between boys and girls athletes found that boys mean European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science - Volume 1 │ Issue 2 │ 2016 86 Siavash Khodaparast Sareshkeh, Sajjad Soleimani Keshayeh, Vahid Bakhshalipour, Majid Keramati MoghadamTHE COMPARISON OF SINGLE-FIELD AND TEAM ATHLETES AND NON-ATHLETIC STUDENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH IN TARBIAT MODARES UNIVERSITY depression was more than girls. Research results from Wang et al (2004) shows that any form of physical activity can protect and provide mental health. Sport is creating positive change, satisfaction with their sense of competence and efficiency play important role that are the component of mental health. In his study concluded that following physical exercises, characters such as anxiety, depression and self-esteem varies to improvement (Macmahon, 2013). Cooper (1989) believes that without regard to types of exercise activities that classified as aerobic have the most effects in terms of physiological and psychological. Studies related to the impact of exercise on long-term personality traits and mental health has shown that sports and physical education not only are known as a recreational activity but also as a learning-educational tool, have plenty of socialpsychological goals (Kamau, 2012). Any move experience or physical change, have a mental change or experience as an outcome. Sport is one of important methods of physical, mental and social development, because participating in sport activities provides many opportunities to become skilled in community. Carroll, (1979) refers some environmental conflicts affecting mental health of students, such as multiple social recreation desires interesting to study, interesting good physical condition rather than limbs limitation, need to progress in study and no have incompetent feel, fear of personality showing rather than self-expressing Occupation choice. The results Jahany-Hashemi (2005) showed that the disorder in men is 4/3 percent and 9/12 percent in women. Anxiety and depression are considered as trends and common mental disorders. So, Ghaffari (2006) studies results shows that non-athletes depression is less than professional and non-professional athletes. Ainsworth and et al Studies (2005) suggests that physical activity and exercise has effect in promoting mental health, reducing depression, increasing welfare, mental and social health, self-confidence, self-believe and self-discovery. Morgan concluded using POM questionnaire that depression, anxiety, fatigue, confusion, fear of success are low in athletes but their potency is high. Since many researchers have been emphasized physical activity and sport as a tool to prevent diseases and disorders and improving mental conditions, including physical symptoms, anxiety and sleep disorders, impaired social functioning and mental depression, and due to obvious differences in physiological and psychological characteristics of athletes of different sport fields and their differences with their nonathletic, in this study compared individual and team athletes mental health with nonathletic. So, by using the results of this study, it can be to have better program with European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science - Volume 1 │ Issue 2 │ 2016 87 Siavash Khodaparast Sareshkeh, Sajjad Soleimani Keshayeh, Vahid Bakhshalipour, Majid Keramati MoghadamTHE COMPARISON OF SINGLE-FIELD AND TEAM ATHLETES AND NON-ATHLETIC STUDENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH IN TARBIAT MODARES UNIVERSITY sport activities, to improve mental health dimensions and reduce mental and emotional stress of people. Materials and Methods Present study is causal-comparative. The statistical population include all of Tarbiat Modares University students in the 88-87 academic year that studying master's and Ph.D. The student population is 6337 people that non-athlete students are 3660 men and 2372 women and athletes student population are 220 males and 78 women. Statistical sample of this study among non-athletic, including 350 males and 330 females and among athletes, including 140 males and 64 females which were selected random-class form based on the Morgan table. The tools used in this study is general health questionnaire with 28 questions (GHQ) that designed by Goldberg and Hillary (1979), and as a standard tool that used in 70 countries such as Iran. Reliability of this questionnaire is calculated 91% by Palahang and et al, This questionnaire has 4 branches and each sub-scale has 7 questions that include: a. physical symptoms scale; b. anxiety and sleep disorders scale; a. impaired social interaction; b. depressive symptoms. Different methods have been proposed for scoring this test Likert simple method has been used in this study. According to this method to score each answer zero to three (3-2-1-0) is belong. Overall score of each individual score is obtained sum of the four sub-scales. Kruscal Wallis test used to compare groups as a statistical method and to demonstrate significant differences between the two - two groups, Mann-Whitney U test and Z are used. Results Total number of samples was 884 that average age is 26 years. Athletes includes two groups of, ((individual)) and ((team)) sports so that the individual were 135 and team fields is also included 69 people, including 11 individual and, 3 team fields (Table 1 and 2). 508 people (78.3 percent) of Non-athletic students and 141 people (1. 69 percent) athletes were Master students and 141 people (7. 21 percent) of non-athletic students and 63 patients (9.30 percent) of athletes were European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science - Volume 1 │ Issue 2 │ 2016 Ph.D. students. 88 Siavash Khodaparast Sareshkeh, Sajjad Soleimani Keshayeh, Vahid Bakhshalipour, Majid Keramati MoghadamTHE COMPARISON OF SINGLE-FIELD AND TEAM ATHLETES AND NON-ATHLETIC STUDENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH IN TARBIAT MODARES UNIVERSITY Table 1: Frequency of individual students in a separate sports field Chess Badminton Fitness wrestling Field 4 -- 13 3 -- 36 4 5 6 2 6 -- 12 12 3 9 5 -- -- 2 1 Total and students Rock Fitness Number of female climbing Aerobics students Tennis Kong Fu Number of male Track Yoga 2 Fields 135 Table 2: Frequency of students in a separate field sports team sports Field and code Football Number of male students Number of female students Volleyball Basketball 51 4 -- -- 5 9 Total 69 Based on Whitney U test, research results show that between mental health of team sports fields students comparing with individual sports fields students is no significant differences (Table 3). However, individual athletes in all scales and group athletes’ scale overall mental health, general physical symptoms and social function impairment, had significant differences compared with non-athletic. So, the individual and group athletes had better mental health than non-athletic students (p<0.05), (Table 4, 5). Table 3: static related to mental health and the scale between individual and team athletes Degree Individual athletes Athletic team Indices of mental Average Rating Average Rating z Significant level Mental health 30.100 80.106 -0.74 0.45 Physical symptoms 29.101 92.101 -0.07 0.94 23.100 00.104 0.43 0.66 18.99 99.108 -1.13 0.25 84.98 14.108 -1.10 0.26 Anxiety and sleep disorders Impaired social functioning Depression Lower average represents better mental health European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science - Volume 1 │ Issue 2 │ 2016 89 Siavash Khodaparast Sareshkeh, Sajjad Soleimani Keshayeh, Vahid Bakhshalipour, Majid Keramati MoghadamTHE COMPARISON OF SINGLE-FIELD AND TEAM ATHLETES AND NON-ATHLETIC STUDENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH IN TARBIAT MODARES UNIVERSITY Table 4: static related to mental health and the scale between individual athletes and nonathletic Degree Individual athletes Non-athletic Indices of mental Average Rating Average Rating Significant z level Mental health 19.220 09.279 -3.87 0.000 Physical symptoms 22.225 58.276 -3.40 0.001 31.234 48.273 2.58 0.001 02.216 52.280 -4.28 0.000 62.229 08.275 -3.28 0.002 Anxiety and sleep disorders Impaired social functioning Depression Lower average represents better mental health Table 5: static related to mental health and the scale between team athletes and nonathletic Degree Athletic team Non-athletic Indices of mental Average Rating Average Rating Mental health 75.197 Physical symptoms z Significant level 85.236 -2.25 0.02 98.195 49.236 -2.33 0.02 Anxiety and sleep disorders 46.207 50.234 -1.52 0.12 Impaired social functioning 16.202 08.236 -1.96 0.04 Depression 93.213 01.234 -1.17 0.24 Lower average represents better mental health Research findings in relation to student educational level and the significance average of the mental health scores is presented in Table 5. As you consider, scores mean in all scales for Undergraduate Ph.D. is lower than master students in athletic group. This difference in mental health scale and general physical symptoms and Impaired social functioning scales are significant (P <0.5) and showed better mental health for doctoral students than master student in this scale. European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science - Volume 1 │ Issue 2 │ 2016 90 Siavash Khodaparast Sareshkeh, Sajjad Soleimani Keshayeh, Vahid Bakhshalipour, Majid Keramati MoghadamTHE COMPARISON OF SINGLE-FIELD AND TEAM ATHLETES AND NON-ATHLETIC STUDENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH IN TARBIAT MODARES UNIVERSITY Table 6: Central indicators for mental health status of athlete’s student with Degree separation Masters Ph.D. Average Rating Average Rating Mental Health 23.107 85.88 -2.07 0.03 Physical symptoms 93.106 52.86 -2.34 0.01 Anxiety and sleep disorders 96.103 19.93 -1.21 0.22 Impaired social functioning 78.107 65.87 2.28 0.22 Depression 56.102 50.97 0.58 0.55 Degree Psychological indicators Z Significant level Discussion and Conclusion The statistical analysis results showed that psychological scales between students participating in team sports and individual sports are no significant differences (p<0/05). This is consistent with the results of some studies. Singer believes that the personality dimensions are similar for individual and team in Athletic group except self-confidence factor. Sharifi (2010) in his study as the relationship between the amount of participation in sports activities and public health concluded that there is no significant difference between the public health and group and individual athletic fields. Aslasher and colleagues compared the wrestling fields, football, basketball and swimming athletics and concluded that football and wrestlers are similar in the psychological characteristics. In other words, there is no difference between the psychological characteristics of team sports fields (football) and individual (wrestling). While in basketball, team was a mild depression. Nourbakhsh (2007) compared Women's mental health of participating athletes in individual and team fields of fifth Students sport Olympiad, and showed that basketball as well as trace and field athletes rather than handball athletes have better mental health. Considering no clear difference in psychological characteristics of individual and team sports, it can be expressed that the impact of individual and team sports of students on mental health is a same. The results of these findings match with results of Aslashr and colleagues (2005) and Sharifi (2010) and do not match with the results of Narimani (2012). Also, individual athletes in all scales and group athletes’ scale overall mental health, general physical symptoms and social function impairment, had significant differences compared with non-athletic. So, the individual and group athletes had better mental health than non-athletic students. European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science - Volume 1 │ Issue 2 │ 2016 91 Siavash Khodaparast Sareshkeh, Sajjad Soleimani Keshayeh, Vahid Bakhshalipour, Majid Keramati MoghadamTHE COMPARISON OF SINGLE-FIELD AND TEAM ATHLETES AND NON-ATHLETIC STUDENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH IN TARBIAT MODARES UNIVERSITY According to the results of these findings, it seems that one of the factors that cause student athletes have better mental health than non-athletic students is their participating in healthy activities such as sport activities. Tuckers research results showed, that physical fitness significantly reduces mental disorders in people. Research has shown that sports such as yoga and deep breathing exercises in the open air, increase alpha brain wave activity and creates relaxation. Athletes that, participate different sports field based on personal interests, tastes the exposure groups, sports cooperation, and cooperation with them and enjoy the new friendships. This may be cause removing such feelings and dissociable and helps create collective spirit, while non-athletic students deprived this opportunity. Another objective of this research was determining mental health of Ph.D. student athletes and master students. Result showed doctoral students compared to master students are better in scales of physical and mental health and social performance. Jahani Hashemi (2009) conducted research on the mental health of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences and concluded that the average prevalence of mental disorders in Ph.D. students is less (6/2) compared with undergraduate students (6/9) and Associate (3/14). In other Research, the effect of mental health status for academic progress were studied and showed students who were high levels of mental pathology experience, have less ability to do their academic assignments. Seems to psychological difference between the two sections can be due to the sensitive situation in terms of cultural- social and economic situation M.Sc. students. that is still limited stabilization of the job and financial community rather than (Ph.D.) students and dependent family, and also little experience in basic life issues such as marriage and various stress, such as Ph.D. and researchers tests are entitled, thus they follow the goals and expectations are irrational in the face of the facts, feelings of competence and will be losers. Masters students probably due to more opportunity and time rather than doctoral students and using the virtual environment such as the Internet and computer games and lack of adequate mobility, benefit low mental health. Results of this findings matches with results of Hosseini (2012) and Masudzadeh (2007). References 1. Brackney. B., E. Karabenhc. (2011). Psychopathological and academic performance. 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