Table 1.
Demographic and sports-related characteristics of the para-athletes compared to non-para-athletes
| Demographic characteristics | Para-athletes % (n) |
Non-para-athletes % (n) |
Sport-related characteristics | Para-athletes % (n) |
Non-para-athletes % (n) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender (% female) | 43.0 (46) | 57.1 (359) |
Individual sport** Team-based sport |
75.1 (82) 24.8 (27) |
58.8 (371) 41.2 (260) |
| Mean age (SD)** | 30.7 (10.6) | 23.4 (4.7) | Recent competition | 24.5 (27) | 20.6 (131) |
| Relationship status** | Main activity related to sport in the past month | ||||
| Single/never married | 49.5 (54) | 55.0 (350) | Actively engaged in sport | 49.1 (54) | 57.6 (367) |
| Partnered | 29.4 (32) | 36.8 (234) | Training (in-season) | 18.2 (20) | 19.0 (121) |
| Married | 18.3 (20) | 7.5 (48) | Training (off-season) | 20.0 (22) | 12.6 (80) |
| Separated/divorced | 2.8 (–) | 0.6 (–) | Recovering from injury | 9.1 (10) | 8.2 (52) |
| Other | 3.6 (-) | 2.7 (17) | |||
|
Sexual orientation Heterosexual Bisexual Same sex attracted Other^ |
88.2 (97) 3.6 (–) 2.7 (–) 5.5 (6) |
93.2 (593) 2.8 (18) 1.7 (11) 2.2 (14) |
Currently injured Currently in an adapted training programme due to injury |
10.1 (11) 12.7 (14) |
12.9 (82) 15.9 (101) |
| Currently studying | 68.2 (75) | 77.7 (261) | Ever treated for a concussion | 13.6 (15) | 15.9 (101) |
|
Highest level of education* Completed < year 12 Completed year 12 University degree Vocational qualification |
14.7 (16) 37.6 (41) 29.4 (32) 18.3 (20) |
14.8 (94) 54.2 (345) 21.4 (136) 9.6 (61) |
Length of time as an NSO categorised athlete** Less than 12 months 1–3 years 4–7 years 8 or more years Do not know |
10.1 (11) 32.1 (35) 26.6 (29) 22.2 (24) 9.2 (10) |
16.0 (102) 37.3 (237) 19.5 (124) 11.2 (71) 13.7 (102) |
|
Paid work in the past month* None Paid—casual Paid—part time Paid—full time Voluntary (unpaid) |
25.5 (28) 25.5 (28) 16.4 (18) 17.3 (19) 15.5 (17) |
35.1 (223) 30.2 (192) 15.4 (98) 13.1 (83) 6.3 (40) |
Travel away due to sport ** Less than 1 month1–2 months 3–4 months 5–6 months 6 months or more |
3.9 (29) 43.6 (48) 16.4 (18) 7.3 (8) 6.4 (7) |
13.8 (103) 30.8 (196) 28.7 (183) 7.8 (50) 16.5 (105) |
|
Living arrangements** At family home (of origin) Renting Own/mortgaged home Other# |
47.7 (51) 23.4 (25) 28.0 (30) 0.9 (-) |
49.8 (317) 31.4 (200) 11.6 (74 7.1 (45) |
Missed significant life events due to role/travel | 60.0 (66) | 67.2 (429) |
| Ever treated for a mental health or psychological problem* | 33.6 (37) | 20.4 (130) | Personal concern for safety while travelling | 7.3 (8) | 9.6 (61) |
| Sought treatment for a mental health or psychological problem in the past 12 months | 20.9 (37) | 19.9 (127) |
**p < .001, *p < .01
^Includes ‘other’, ‘do not know’ and ‘do not want to say’
#Includes living with a host family