Author(s): RADOVAN, F., ERLEND SOLSTAD, B., BAGGER KJÆR, J., MELIN, A., AUSLAND, Å., BJÄRSHOLM, D., IVARSSON, A., KLUNGLAND TORSTVEIT, M., LAXDAL, A., RYMAN AUGUSTSSON, S., LINNER, S., Institution: DEPARTMENT OF SPORT SCIENCE, Country: SWEDEN, Abstract-ID: 2302

Background: Puberty is a key factor in the decline of girls’ sports participation during adolescence. Knowledge, preparation, and social support can make the biopsychosocial (BPS) puberty-related changes more manageable. Yet, research on knowledge about BPS puberty-related topics in the sport context of female athletes is limited.
Aim: Thus, the main aims of the study were to (a) examine female athletes’ perceived knowledge and knowledge needs regarding BPS puberty-related topics in sports during adolescence and to (b) examine how perceived knowledge and knowledge needs, respectively, were interconnected across BPS domains. Additionally, as a secondary aim, the study sought to (c) explore potential differences between athletes participating in team versus individual sports regarding perceived knowledge, knowledge needs, and interconnections across BPS domains.
Method: Swedish and Norwegian female athletes from ten sport disciplines (football, horseback riding, handball, swimming, gymnastics, floorball, athletics, cycling, and cross-country and alpine skiing) were invited to fill out an anonymous online survey with questions focusing on perceived knowledge and knowledge needs regarding BPS puberty-related topics, such as individual differences and social comparisons, during adolescence. Both perceived knowledge and knowledge needs were measured using a 7-Point Likert Scale.
Results: A total of 1323 female athletes (n=657 (49.7%), athletes from team sports; n=656 (49.6%) from individual sports) responded to the online survey. Findings revealed low perceived knowledge as well as knowledge needs regarding BPS puberty-related topics among female athletes. The Mann-Whitney U test was used, revealing that athletes in team sports perceived their knowledge to be slightly higher regarding individual differences, social cohesion, social comparison, acceptance within the group, and recovery, compared to athletes in individual sports. Athletes in team sports reported higher knowledge needs regarding social comparisons, sports nutrition and recovery, while athletes in individual sports reported higher knowledge needs regarding changes in sex hormones, individual differences, and changes in body composition. A network analysis identified clusters of biological, psychosocial, and behavioral topics in both perceived knowledge and knowledge needs, indicating that knowledge regarding BPS puberty-related topics is concentrated within subdomains.
Conclusion: Our findings underscore the urgent need of and the considerable opportunity for a more holistic understanding of BPS puberty in the sport context of female athletes. Future educational programs should therefore be holistic and interdisciplinary in scope.