Date Available

12-6-2017

Year of Publication

2017

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College

Education

Department/School/Program

Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Advisor

Dr. Heather Erwin

Abstract

This study explored student-athletes’ attitudes, stigmas, and preferences toward mental health and sport psychology services. Previous research has identified that student-athletes report similar rates of distress compared to the general student population (Davoren & Hwang, 2014; Frank, Hautzinger & Beckmann, 2013). While student-athletes are in need of mental health services, previous research has also found that student-athletes can benefit from the use of sport psychology services. Previous research has demonstrated the need to support student-athletes as people, students, and athletes (Andersen, Miles, Robinson, & Mahoney, 2004; Bond, 2002; Friesen & Orlick, 2010; Miller & Kerr, 2002). However, not all athletic departments offer mental health and sport psychology services for their student-athletes. Additionally, student-athletes, coaches, and athletic departments, often stigmatize mental health and sport psychology services which results in underutilization. In order to better understand the need and preferences of using these services from a student-athlete’s perspective, this study surveyed 174 iv NCAA Division 1 athletes. The findings of this study revealed that student-athletes were more likely to seek mental health and sport psychology services if they had a) positive attitudes toward seeking help, b) low levels of self-stigma and c) services accessible within their athletic department.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/ETD.2017.461

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