The Prevalence of and Issues Associated with the Help Seeking Behavior Among College Student-athletes

The Prevalence of and Issues Associated with the Help Seeking Behavior Among College Student-athletes
Author: Jamie Elshire-Dulle
Publisher:
Total Pages: 242
Release: 2019
Genre: Academic achievement
ISBN:
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Division I student-athletes are faced with unique and sometimes stressful college experiences. They are expected to meet the academic rigors associated with attending college while also excelling in their team sport. And yet, research reported by the NCAA (2016) indicates student-athletes are less likely to seek mental health counseling than their non-athlete counterparts for issues related to depression and anxiety. The hesitation to seek mental health counseling has been attributed to the athletic culture, influences of those close to the student-athlete, and a lack of resources. In order to best assist student-athletes with mental health related concerns, including performance anxiety, one must first hear their narratives. A mixed-methods research study was conducted to explore the prevalence of and issues associated with help-seeking behavior of college student-athletes. The results of this study indicated that while student-athletes struggled with the same mental health concerns of their non-athlete counterparts, they had an increased pressure of maintaining their student-athlete identity. The challenge in addressing their mental health needs was due to the lack of time available for anything other their academic and athletic commitments. The most desired (and possibly most effective) solution in accommodating the emotional and mental health needs of this unique student population was being able to seek mental health services within the confines of the athletic department. This location was found to be a safe place in which student-athletes spent the majority of their time and felt the most connected to the campus, peer group, and stakeholders.

Exploring Mental Health Help-seeking Behaviors in Student-athletes

Exploring Mental Health Help-seeking Behaviors in Student-athletes
Author: Geana R. Shemak
Publisher:
Total Pages: 118
Release: 2021
Genre: Mental health
ISBN:
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Introduction: Adolescents and young adults experience a high level of mental health conditions.These disorders appear to be increasing in number and severity. The prevalence rate for 18-25-years-olds is 8.7% in 12 months. Mental health conditions are treatable, yet many people do not seek professional help. Seeking help from a professional source is particularly important for preventing, early detection, treatment, and recovery from mental health conditions. Purpose: The purpose of this mixed-methods study is to demonstrate the prevalence of depression, explore student-athletes attitudes towards seeking mental health help, understand what factors may influence help-seeking behaviors, and explore the athlete's perceptions of the role that athletic trainers play in the assessment and referral process. Methods: An exploratory, concurrent mixed methods design was used. Survey data from the ATSPPH-SF and PHQ-9 were collected from collegiate student-athletes. A phenomenological approach will guide the qualitative research process. Semi-structured interviews will be audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using an interpretive thematic analytical approach. Study Participants: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes participating at the Divsion III (DIII) level. Results: The prevalence of depression was almost 42% in the study population. There was no relationship between PHQ-9 scores and sex. Attitudes towards seeking help were generally positive. Females tend to have more favorable attitudes than males, but this finding was not statistically significant. There was no relationhship between PHQ-9 scores and ATSPPH-SF scores. Barriers to help-seeking included perceived seriousness, stigma, lack of time, accessibility, prefer to handle issues on own, and cost. Facilitators to help-seeking included perceived and nee-problems that were serious enough to warrant help and a supportive network. Clinical Importance: As we continue to address the mental health crisis, it is imperative to understand what prevents student-athletes from seeking professional psychological help and develop supportive programs to help them overcome these barriers. Certified athletic trainers, coaches, and other athletic personel need to understand the seriousness of untreated mental health conditions and be educated to recognize when an athlete may be struggling with issues beyond their control. Knowing when to refer a student-athlete to a professional is essential in preventing potential unnecessary and irreversible consequences.

Factors Influencing and Predicting the Likelihood of Seeking Mental Health Help

Factors Influencing and Predicting the Likelihood of Seeking Mental Health Help
Author: Matthew David Bird
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2023-11-25
Genre:
ISBN:
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Collegiate athletes experience mental health concerns at similar rates to non-athlete students, however, the student-athlete population underutilizes professional mental health help with only 10% of those in need seeking services. Criticisms of the extant research on studentathlete mental health help-seeking include studies that lack theoretical guidance, and convenience samples who are not experiencing a mental health issue. The aim of this study was to conduct a theoretically driven investigation assessing factors of help-seeking associated with the Health Belief Model and Reasoned Action Approach while sampling student-athletes who identified as currently experiencing a personal or emotional health concern. More specifically, the purpose of this study was to investigate which factors of help-seeking behavior predict the likelihood that a student-athlete will seek professional help, and to identify the differences in help-seeking factors between student-athletes with a lower likelihood of seeking help compared to those with a higher likelihood of seeking help. Participants were 269 NCAA student-athletes who completed an online survey assessing factors related to their help-seeking behavior. A multiple liner regression reveled that perceived benefits, perceived susceptibility, and perceived attitudes factors were significant predictors of the likelihood that a student-athlete would seek treatment. Results from a one-way MANOVA showed significant differences between the lower likelihood and the higher likelihood of seeking help group on the perceived seriousness, perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, instrumental barriers, stigma-related barriers, and the perceived attitudes factors. Additional information gathered in this study suggests the most frequently reported factors which prevented student-athletes from seeking help include a belief the issues they are experiencing is not that serious, or a desire to seek help from a source other than a mental health professional. Findings from this study have implications for athletic departments, campus counseling centers, and future interventions designed to enhance mental health help-seeking.

Mind Body and Sport

Mind Body and Sport
Author: NCAA
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2014-11-01
Genre:
ISBN: 9781495131752
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Understanding the Help-seeking Behaviors of Student-athletes

Understanding the Help-seeking Behaviors of Student-athletes
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 67
Release: 2019
Genre:
ISBN:
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This study was aimed at identifying barriers and facilitators that influence help-seeking as well as the effect of implementing an integrated healthcare approach based on current recommendations. A total of 411 student-athletes from 18 intercollegiate teams at a mid-major Division I institution in the mid-Atlantic region completed a 12-item instrument comprised of ten quantitative items and two open-ended questions. The quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS software, and a constant comparative method was used to code responses from the open-ended questions. Findings suggested a prevalence of mental health challenges among student-athletes, especially overwhelming stress, struggles with time management, and anxiety. Female student-athletes seek help more often and are more satisfied with the care they receive from friends, teammates, and athletic trainers. Their male counterparts seek out peers and faculty members for support. There are also gender differences present in the perceptions of barriers and facilitators to seeking care. Qualitative findings were divided into positive help-seeking experiences, negative help-seeking experiences, and neutral/no help-seeking experiences. Conclusions drawn from this study include incorporating stronger and more frequent education on resources for student-athletes, coaches, support staff, and faculty members and establishing a peer support network within the athletics department.

Female Collegiate Student Athletes and the Perception, Attitudes and Experiences of Psychological and Mental Health Services

Female Collegiate Student Athletes and the Perception, Attitudes and Experiences of Psychological and Mental Health Services
Author: Breonna Bejaran
Publisher:
Total Pages: 42
Release: 2020
Genre: Help-seeking behavior
ISBN:
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This study explored eighteen National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II female student athletes’ experiences and opinions of help seeking for mental health concerns. A mixed methodological design was used. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected to gain an understanding of help seeking barriers for the participant and their beliefs about help seeking barriers for their peers. Results from the qualitative data identified several themes that assisted in understanding help seeking behaviors. Data suggest that there was a lack of motivation when it came to seek mental health services as a whole by the female student athlete population. Time, lack of understanding as to where to get counseling, as well as lack of information as a whole showed to be the most prominent barriers within the female athlete population. There was also a significant finding involving lack of information and the amount of time the participant has been at the university, showing that the longer they were at the university the less information they had about mental health services. Many themes were also collected such as fear of being misunderstood, as well as feeling there is a lack of qualified counselors and a lack of counselors of the respondents’ own gender and race.

Student-athletes' Perceptions of Mental Illness and Attitudes Towards Help-seeking

Student-athletes' Perceptions of Mental Illness and Attitudes Towards Help-seeking
Author: Jordan David Barnard
Publisher:
Total Pages: 184
Release: 2013
Genre: College athletes
ISBN: 9781303008375
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The negative effects of disclosing a history of mental illness and the need for mental health services are well documented in the professional literature (Corrigan, 2005). Being labeled as "mentally ill" can lead to negative stereotypes placed on the individual that lead to prejudice and discrimination (Corrigan, 2004). These negative effects of disclosing psychological disturbances have led to some individuals being hesitant to seek help, even if the individuals or those close to them feel it is needed (Thornicroft, 2006). College students are a vulnerable population due to the likelihood that they will experience their first psychological disturbance during their college years (Eisenberg, Golberstein, & Gollust, 2007), making access to mental health care crucial. College student-athletes may be even more at-risk for certain psychological disturbances, based on their unique demands and environmental stressors they face (Pinkerton, Hintz, & Barrow, 1989). College student-athletes appear to be underutilizing the mental health services available to them on college campuses (Watson & Kissinger, 2007). Prior studies have shown that college student-athletes are less likely to seek out mental health treatment than other college students (Watson, 2005). The purpose of this study was to see whether or not college student-athletes would exhibit more negative attitudes than student-nonathletes towards mental illness. This study also compared the attitudes toward seeking psychological help between athletes and non-athletes (using a measure developed for use with student-athletes and student-nonathletes by Watson, 2005). Scales that measure social distance, perceived devaluation and discrimination towards mental illness were used to operationalize stigma towards mental illness. The scales this study used to measure social distance (Martin et al., 2000) and perceived discrimination towards mental illness (Link, 1987) had never been used before in a student-athlete population. The potential roles that athletic identity, race, and gender play in treatment-seeking comfort were also examined.

Help-Seeking and Help-Giving In Student-Athletes: Efficacy and Quality

Help-Seeking and Help-Giving In Student-Athletes: Efficacy and Quality
Author: Kimberly Sanford
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2022
Genre:
ISBN:
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Mental health concerns are growing within collegiate athletics. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate (1) help-seeking and help-giving sources of athletes, (2) the quality of athlete help-giving, (3) and the ability of self-efficacy, other-efficacy, and RISE to predict help-seeking and help-giving sources and the quality of athlete help. An online survey (comprised of efficacy beliefs, help-seeking and help-seeking intentions, and an open-ended help-giving quality question) was completed by 124 Division 1 women's soccer players (M = 19.91 SD =1.36). The open-ended help-giving quality question was rated using the teen Mental Health First Aid Action Plan. Frequency counts revealed that student-athletes were most likely to seek help from mental health professionals (82.3%) and teammates (77.4%). They were also most likely to refer others to mental health professionals (88.7%) and other teammates (70.2%). Athlete's help-giving quality was moderate (M = 4.78 on a range of 0-10). Hierarchal regressions revealed self-efficacy significantly predicted help-seeking (b = .233 p

Exploring Potential Role of Social Work Support for College Student Athletes

Exploring Potential Role of Social Work Support for College Student Athletes
Author: Victoria Catherine Montenegro
Publisher:
Total Pages: 34
Release: 2016
Genre:
ISBN:
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This research was a descriptive exploratory quantitative study that examined the potential role of social work support for college student athletes in the San Fernando Valley. This research gathered survey data on student athlete’s basic demographics, their current and past exposures to risk and protective factors and their attitudes towards help seeking behavior. The sample consisted of 35 student athletes. Results indicated that there was a strong negative relationship between peer risk factors and help seeking behavior. Further student individual risk factors were related to school and peer risk factors. Students with higher individual protective factors, also had higher family, school, peer and community protective factors and a stronger tendency to seek help when needed. Social work professionals could be a great asset to the Athletic Department supporting student athletes holistically by helping them reach their full academic, athletic and mental potential.