Adverse Childhood Experiences and Student-Athlete Mental Health: A Social Work in Sports Perspective

Abstract

The present discussion reviews the current literature on the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on college student-athlete mental health and advocates for the inclusion of trauma informed mental health social work practice in addressing the needs of this uniquely at-risk, and vulnerable population. The sport ethic model is presented as a cognitive lens through which social workers may better understand the athletic context. Sports social work practitioners, skilled in trauma informed mental health practice, focus on the personal and contextual influences that potentially affect athlete mental health and well-being. In this way, sports social workers are uniquely qualified to address challenges of the athletic experience and provide athletes with the resources and support needed to successfully thrive in the athletic context.

“Is it Hard Out Here for a Player?”: Understanding the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Athletic Identity Among College Student Athletes

“…These efforts would all be with the goal of creating safe opportunities to promote identity exploration. Professionals trained in trauma-informed mental health practice could assist athletes in developing skills and engaging in constructive corrective experiences to cope with challenges as a part of a multidisciplinary athletic staff (Bennett, 2022(Bennett, , 2023. While college athletes are less comfortable seeking counseling services than other academic or athletic resources, especially Division I athletes (Moore, 2016), Daltry et al (2023) suggests if athletes, athletic personnel, and coaches feel understood and counselors are knowledgeable about athletic culture, they may be more likely to refer to and seek out mental health services.…”

It’s a thin line: Mental health and mental toughness within the context of Hughes and Coakley’s Sport Ethic Model

“…Once mental illness in an athlete has been identified, it is vital to collaborate with qualified mental health professionals, including sports social workers. This will allow for the proper monitoring and evaluation of performance, overall social functioning, and potential modification of training approaches (Bennett, 2022). To be sure, an attitude of mental toughness can be maintained despite the presentation of mental illness.…”

When the Game Stands Tall

“…As stated previously, student-athletes are uniquely at risk for a number of mental health concerns. Recent studies have begun to explore the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on student-athlete populations (Bennett, 2022;Brown, 2019). Indeed, it is likely that many student-athletes may be coping with catastrophic / traumatic experiences, chronic stressors, and other challenges stemming from adverse childhood events.…”