Stress Factors Among South Korean Youth Soccer Players: An Analysis of Club and Pro Youth Teams

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 99 - 106

Chul Soon Choi , Il-young Cho , Yong Hong , Dohoon Koo

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze stress factors among South Korean youth soccer players, focusing on differences between Pro Youth and Club Team players. Surveys were conducted with 284 players registered with the Korea Football Association in 2024, examining various stress dimensions including performance, training, interpersonal, and game-related stress factors. Statistical analyses included t-tests and ANOVA to determine differences across demographics. Results revealed that Pro Youth players experienced significantly higher levels of performance stress (M = 2.88, SD = 0.73, p = 0.012) and training stress (M = 2.75, SD = 0.72, p = 0.021) compared to Club Team players. Positional analysis indicated midfielders reported relatively high stress levels in performance stress (M = 2.86, SD = 0.67), influenced by their dual offensive and defensive responsibilities, though statistical significance with other positions was limited. Less experienced players (less than one year) showed elevated interpersonal stress (M = 2.60, SD = 0.68). These findings highlight the intense psychological demands placed on youth soccer players, particularly in highly competitive environments. Tailored stress management interventions, including role-specific support and psychological skills training, are recommended to mitigate these challenges and promote sustainable athlete development.

Keywords

Youth Soccer, Stress Factors, Competitive Sports, Psychological Support, South Korea

Ethical Statement

This study was conducted in compliance with ethical guidelines, and it received approval from the Jeonju University Institutional Review Board (IRB approval number: jjIRB-240215-HR-2023-1110).

References

• Côté, J., Baker, J., & Abernethy, B. (2007). Practice and play in the development of sport expertise. Handbook of Sport Psychology, 184-202. [CrossRef]
• Gledhill, A., Harwood, C., & Forsdyke, D. (2017). Psychosocial factors associated with talent development in youth soccer: A systematic review. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 31, 93-112. [CrossRef]
• Gould, D., Finch, L. M., & Jackson, S. A. (1993). Coping strategies used by national champion figure skaters. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 64(4), 453-468. [PubMed]
• Hanton, S., Fletcher, D., & Coughlan, G. (2005). Stress in elite sport performers: A comparative study of competitive and organizational stressors. Journal of Sports Sciences, 23(10), 1129-1141. [PubMed]
• Nobari, H., Fani, M., Pardos-Mainer, E., & Pérez-Gómez, J. (2021). Fluctuations in well-being based on position in elite young soccer players during a full season. Healthcare. 2021; 9: 586.Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer Publishing. [PubMed]
• Lee. S. (2006). Research about soccer players’ steessors and disposal methods. Master’s Thesis, Silla University, Graduate School, South Korea. [CrossRef]
• Negara, J. D. K., Jusman, S. W. A., Sekartini, R., Ilyas, E. I., Ray, H. R. D., & Gumilar, A. (2022). The Impact of the Difference of Futsal Frequency towards Physical Stress in Adolescent. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 10(4), 638-643. [CrossRef]
• Olmedilla, A., Moreno-Fernández, I. M., Gómez-Espejo, V., Robles-Palazón, F. J., Verdú, I., & Ortega, E. (2019). Psychological intervention program to control stress in youth soccer players. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 2260. [PubMed]
• Reilly, T., & Ekblom, B. (2005). The use of recovery methods post-exercise. Journal of Sports Sciences, 23(6), 619-627. [PudMed]
• Scanlan, T. K., Babkes, M. L., & Scanlan, L. A. (2005). Participation in sport: A developmental glimpse at emotion. Handbook of Sport Psychology, 654-672.
• Scanlan, T. K., Ravizza, K., & Stein, G. (1991). An in-depth study of former elite figure skaters: III. Sources of stress. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 13(2), 103-120. [CrossRef]
• Scales, P. C., Roehlkepartain, E. C., & Houltberg, B. J. (2023). Effects of developmental relationships on the well‐being of youth in high‐stress families. Family Relations, 72(5), 2800-2819. [CrossRef]
• Smith, R. E., Smoll, F. L., & Schutz, R. W. (1990). Measurement and correlates of sport-specific cognitive and somatic trait anxiety: The Sport Anxiety Scale. Anxiety Research, 2(4), 263-280. [CrossRef]
• Kim, S., & Cho, S. (2023). Verifying the role of stress in the relationship between perfectionism and athlete exhaustion in youth athletes. The Korean Society of Sports Science, 32(2), 297–316[CrossRef]
• Vealey, R. S., Garner-Holman, M., Hayashi, S. W., & Giacobbi, P. (2016). Sources of sport-confidence: Conceptualization and instrument development. Journal of Sport Psychology, 20(1), 54-80. [CrossRef]