Impressive records. Competitive performance. Championship titles.
These are just a few components that drive collegiate athletes to continuously practice, improve and strive for higher results in their sports.
But what happens when those things are taken away? How is their identity affected?
Grand Canyon University sophomore Logan Demeter, junior Allison Rogers and senior Sedina Hayes stressed the benefit of an athletes' religious identity to lowering stress in competition in their research presentation Monday afternoon at the Canyon Undergraduate Research Symposium.
“I grew up around a lot of high-level athletes that identify highly with their religion, and I saw a lot of decrease in stress and performance anxiety,” said Demeter.
“We want to put some numbers behind it and say, ‘hey, if you don’t believe this, here is some actual results that show us it is scientifically correct.”
The symposium showcased five research presentations all completed by undergraduate students who had a chance to share their work in front of GCU President Brian Mueller, Provost Dr. Randy Gibb, college deans, staff and faculty.
Science, faith, music, dance, athletics and academic stress were among the discussed research topics students chose, often because of personal experience and passion for career fields.
“Over the last few years, we have really made an effort to grow all things undergraduate research,” said Honors College Dean Dr. Breanna Naegeli. “This just is one of the venues where we can really showcase a sampling of what students are doing throughout the year.”
Demeter, Rogers and Hayes kicked off the event with their presentation, “Examining the Correlation Between Athletic Identity, Religious Identity and Stress.” By comparing research on performance quality and stress levels seen in athletes who find their identity in sports versus religion, the group explained how religion can have a positive effect on athletes in various ways.
High-esteem identity increases levels of motivation, confidence and improves performance, but when those factors are compromised, that identity can be affected, explained Rogers. When athletes experience injuries, perceive a decline in their performance or even transition out of sports, it can lead to psychological challenges.
The very components that drive and motivate these athletes can become a source of their stress. However, when athletes turn to their religion and separate their identity from their sport, their stress decreases and performance improves.
“Partnering with who our religion believes to be our sovereign being of everything that has ever existed is the best way, from what research has shown, to have a higher confidence and performance level,” said Rogers.
To confirm such results, the group completed surveys with Club Sports athletes on campus. They measured religious identity in 25 questions, covering aspects such as social recognition, emotional ties and how integral being an athlete is to one’s self concept. The results showed the number of athletes that consider their identity to be completely rooted in their sport and how many find it in religion.
“A lot of athletes tend to over identify with their role as an athlete and fail to develop other aspects of their identity. This research shows it is a fact to prove what we have been saying,” said Hayes.
Other student presenters were:
Melissa Hannay, Daniel Lara, Logan Fuchsberger and Jacob Walker: “The Neuroprotective Effects of Norpsilocin and Metformin: A Neuronal Cell Model”
Julianne Pankau, Paige Heilig, Noah Bjorkman and Vanessa Torres: “Out of Egypt: Evening of Worship Music and Dance 2024”
Dillon McGuckin and Allison Rogers: “Religion and Stress”
Dalton Lesser and Kennedy Kerbs: “Impact of Time of Day and Gender on Power Output in Division I Athletes”
“Sometimes students get so invested in what they are working on that they don’t always get the opportunity to talk to somebody not involved in their field about what they are doing,” said Katalina Inzunza Herrera, Honors College program manager.
“It takes a lot of time for students to apply, for our college representatives and committee to make selections and get into event time. It feels great to see students go from their paper applications to the final presentation component."
GCU staff writer Izabela Fogarasi can be reached at [email protected].
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