Investigating the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Depression Symptoms among NCAA Division I Collegiate Athletes

Cox, Charles E.; Ross-Stewart, Lindsay; Foltz, Brad D.

doi:10.17265/2332-7839/2017.01.002

Cited by 27 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…In light of all the risk factors, student-athletes are at risk for anxiety, depression, drug and alcohol use, and eating disorders (Strohle, 2019). Research has found that more than 30% of student-athletes present with depressive symptoms (Cox et al, 2017), between 30 to 50% of student-athletes have experienced anxiety (Davoren & Hwang, 2014), and almost 60% of female student-athletes are at risk for an eating disorder (National Eating Disorders Association, 2022). Studies have also found that student-athletes participate in high-risk binge-drinking (Druckman et al, 2015;Ford, 2007) and drug use (Gill, 2009;Yusko et al, 2008).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

International Student-Athletes' Psychological and Sociocultural Adjustment Experiences

Terzis

Beasley

2023

ASW

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International college students face psychosocial adjustment challenges transitioning into college, which may be heightened for international student-athletes (ISAs) who also have to adjust to Division I (DI) athletics. Even so, there are limited articles that synthesize the research on this population. Thus, we sought to fill this gap by examining studies focused on the adjustment experiences of ISAs. A qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis is a method used in social work research to synthesize the findings of qualitative studies (Aguirre & Bolton, 2014). We used qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis to conduct an exhaustive search of the literature, construct themes, and synthesize themes of qualitative research regarding ISAs and their adjustment experiences. We identified 11 articles with three overarching themes: (a) acculturative stress, (b) adjustment to the college experience, and (c) adjustment to athletics in the United States. Findings suggest ISAs experience not only transitional stress related to their identities as a student and as an athlete but also from their acculturation experiences. Thus, we propose ISAs transitioning to college experience a ternary-or three way-role negotiation of student identity, athlete identity, and cultural identity. Social workers employed at Division I institutions and within Division I athletic departments have the opportunity to advocate for the needs of this population.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

International Student-Athletes' Psychological and Sociocultural Adjustment Experiences

Terzis

Beasley

2023

ASW

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“…The NCAA has declared mental health support one of its top priorities for athletics (Henry, 2020), as the rising number of mental health diagnoses and suicides on college campuses has been labeled as a major public health concern (Liu et al, 2019). For instance, over 30% of 950 NCAA Division I student-athletes experience symptoms of depression (Brown, 2014;Cox et al, 2017), and over 50% have experienced "overwhelming" anxiety in the last year (Brown, 2014). The use of counseling services in colleges across the U.S. has increased significantly, with over half of students who seek help leaving with a severe psychological diagnosis (Rudick and Dannels, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Good Food, Good Mood: Perspectives on the Relationship Between Nutrition and Mental Health With Division I Collegiate Athletic Programs

McCabe

Ketcham

Hall

2021

Front. Sports Act. Living

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Research has shown a strong relationship between nutrition and mental health. Packed schedules and little rest time may make student-athletes more susceptible to mental health issues than the general population, but few athletes are fully aware of the effects that nutrition can have on their mental health. While collegiate athletic programs are beginning to recognize the individual contributions of nutrition and mental health to performance and are hiring sport dietitians and psychologists for their athletes, it is unclear whether these topics are ever discussed within the same context. The goal of this study was to understand the perspectives of different athletic personnel on the relationship between nutrition and mental health. 17 athletic personnel (11 Female, 6 Male) from 6 NCAA Division I universities were recruited for a 30–45-min semi-structured WebEx interview. Participants included athletic trainers, coaches, dietitians, sport psychologists, strength and conditioning coaches, and sports medicine physicians. Participants were asked questions about their educational backgrounds, resources, and perspectives on the integration of nutrition and mental health in their programs. Transcribed responses were sorted into four themes: (1) Resources, (2) Education, (3) Department Integration or Collaboration, and (4) Student and Coach Engagement. All participants reported a need for greater monetary resources and staffing. Around 59% of the participants felt they had little more than general or personal interest-level knowledge on topics pertaining to nutrition or mental health, with the exception of sports dietitians or psychologists. Each school varied in the degree to which their athletic staff regularly communicated about their work and athlete health statuses. Athletes were reportedly more or less likely to utilize the resources provided depending on coach attitudes toward nutrition or mental health. Regardless of size, reputation and annual spending, each university was reported to be in the early stages of integrating nutrition and mental health programs into their existing athletic departments. Implications of this work may be to help schools plan for ways to reallocate funding for nutrition or mental health programming.

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“…Though the literature suggests there may be differences between male and female athletes in general, the topic remains underexplored in the population of collegiate athletes. This atrisk population faces unique psychological and environmental circumstances and it is crucial to better understand their experiences to provide optimal care after injury [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Qualitative Assessment of Return to Sport in Collegiate Athletes: Does Gender Matter?

Fernandez

Terry

Tjong

2020

Cureus

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Introduction: Participation of female athletes in collegiate athletics continues to rise, but there remains a significant underrepresentation of this growth in the literature and lack of knowledge regarding the impact of gender on the college athlete experience. Our goal was to explore how collegiate female and male athletes perceive and approach return to sport after orthopaedic surgery. Methods: Semi-structured, open-ended interviews were conducted with collegiate varsity athletes from a single institution who underwent orthopaedic surgery following injury with at least two years follow-up. Athletes were asked about factors influencing recovery, rehabilitation, and their return to or retirement from sport. Codes, categories, and themes were derived within and across genders. Results: Fifteen athletes (six females and nine males) were interviewed individually. Athletes shared similar experiences following injury, citing similar motivations driving them back to sport. Athletes stressed the importance of the athlete role to their identity regardless of gender. Our analysis revealed two gender-related challenges: male athletes commonly felt weight change was a barrier to successful recovery and often led to self-consciousness; while females expressed frustrations in lack of empathy from those they turned to for support. Conclusion: Female and male athletes shared some common supporting and challenging factors in return to sport following orthopaedic surgery. The most important findings of the present study were the differentiated challenges male versus female athletes experienced. Female athletes found difficulty with interpersonal relationships and external support, while male athletes struggled internally with their own body image and changing self-concept. This qualitative study provides a nuanced look at the experience of varsity athletes returning to sport following surgery. An understanding of the gendered experiences of collegiate athletes is critical to ensure all athletes in this unique population are supported as they cope with injury and seek to return to sport.

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Investigating the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Depression Symptoms among NCAA Division I Collegiate Athletes

Cited by 27 publications

References 37 publications

International Student-Athletes' Psychological and Sociocultural Adjustment Experiences

International Student-Athletes' Psychological and Sociocultural Adjustment Experiences

Good Food, Good Mood: Perspectives on the Relationship Between Nutrition and Mental Health With Division I Collegiate Athletic Programs

A Qualitative Assessment of Return to Sport in Collegiate Athletes: Does Gender Matter?

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