Understanding and Promoting College Student-Athlete Health: Essential Issues for Student Affairs Professionals

Abstract

Collegiate student athletes are faced with the same developmental challenges and stressors as their nonathlete peers, but they are also expected to deal with the challenges of athletic involvement (e.g., time demands, physical demands, travel schedules). Such additional demands may put athletes at greater risk for experiencing physical and psychological health problems. The current article was written for student affairs administrators as an overview of the current knowledge about several healthrelated issues commonly faced by collegiate student athletes (i.e., training and overtraining, alcohol, drug use and drug testing, depression and suicidality, dysfunctional eating behaviors, injury, and hazing), and to provide assistance to these administrators for making decisions about the best practices for dealing with such issues.

Student‐Athletes and Mental Health Experiences

“…Furthermore, in 2017, the American College Health Association reported that 28% of males and 11% of females who participated in their survey reported having five or more drinks in one sitting which is considered binge drinking (National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, , p. 2). Further, studies show that student‐athletes are more likely than non‐student‐athletes to binge drink (Adams et al., ; Brenner & Swanik ; Etzel, Watson, Visek, & Maniar, ). Results from a 2013 NCAA study show that 80% of student‐athletes reported consuming alcohol in the last year and 44% of male student‐athletes reported binge drinking (Burnsed, ), and in many cases, alcohol and drug abuse coexist with mental health issues (Brown, ).…”

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

“…Student affairs professionals have previously been encouraged to watch for the warning signs of alcohol abuse and signs of depression or other psychological distress among college athletes, particularly in female and freshmen athletes [8]. Recommendations were also made regarding the recognition of warning signs and ways in which to monitor at-risk college athletes-even suggesting that depression screenings be conducted at regular points throughout the athletic season.…”

Untitled

“…In the United States, college student-athletes tend to receive a considerable amount of public attention (Etzel, Watson, Visek, & Maniar, 2006) and are often some of the most idolized individuals on campus (Parham, 1996). Such adulation from fans and others can create pressure which can increase student-athletes' vulnerability to mental health-related issues.…”