Measuring change in domains of health-related quality of life and well-being in Black or African American adolescent football athletes from rural communities across a single football season.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity and team sport participation in adolescence are associated with positive health outcomes, stronger social skills, and improved mental health. However, negative health consequences are frequently associated with contact/collision sports like football. The objective of this study was to examine any change in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and pediatric well-being among adolescent males after participating in a single season of football. METHOD: A cross-sectional study design was utilized in a high school football setting. Participants included Black/African American adolescent male football players (n = 83) from five schools within rural Alabama. Pediatric HRQoL and well-being measures were administered at preseason and postseason, including Life Satisfaction, Emotional Support, Psychological Stress, Physical Stress, Depressive Symptoms, Sleep Disturbance, and Peer Relationships. Based on normative data, participants' scores were classified as within normal limits (WNL) (T-score = 40-60) or clinically reduced (T-score < 40) or elevated (T-score > 60) depending on orientation of each questionnaire. Each outcome from pre-to-postseason evaluation was compared using a within-persons t-test. RESULTS: Most participants (69.9-84.3%) had HRQoL/well-being scores WNL and scores remained unchanged at postseason evaluations. However, on average, physical (p = 0.035, d = 0.24) and psychological stress (p = 0.014, d = 0.28) showed small, but significant increases from pre-to-postseason. CONCLUSIONS: Modest increases in physical and psychological stress were found from preseason to postseason. Both football and non-football-related stressors could have contributed to this change. Other HRQoL/well-being scores generally showed no change. Though the health risks associated with contact/collision sports deserve attention, current findings suggest a season of football may not be associated with adverse changes in HRQoL/well-being.