Mental Toughness, Sport-Related Well-Being, and Mental Health Stigma Among National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Student-Athletes

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Matthew D. Bird ◽  
Eadie E. Simons ◽  
Patricia C. Jackman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Division I ◽  
Mental Toughness ◽  
Public Stigma ◽  
Personal Stigma ◽  
The Relationship

Mental toughness has been associated with factors related to psychological well-being, but little is known about its relationship with stigma toward mental health and mental health help-seeking. This study investigated the relationship between mental toughness, sport-related well-being, and personal stigma toward mental health in a sample of 154 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I student-athletes. The moderating effect of mental toughness on the relationship between public stigma and self-stigma toward mental health help-seeking was also explored. Mental toughness was significantly and positively associated with sport-related well-being, but not significantly related to personal stigma toward mental health. Moderation analysis indicated that mental toughness was not a significant moderator of the relationship between public stigma and self-stigma, but higher levels of mental toughness were significantly associated with lower levels of stigma toward mental health help-seeking. Building mental toughness may be a way to increase well-being and to reduce stigma toward help-seeking in student-athletes.

scholarly journals Mental Health in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Impact on Well-Being Across the Athlete-Collegiate Career

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
David P. Schary ◽  
Carolina Lundqvist
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Division I ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
The Impact

In reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictive policies altered student-athletes’ academic and athletic life. Sparse research has investigated the pandemic’s effect on student-athlete mental health in terms of both negative (e.g., depression, anxiety) and positive (e.g., well-being, quality of life) dimensions. This study explored the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on well-being and quality of life among National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I student-athletes at different stages of their collegiate career. Ninety-nine student-athletes (Mage = 19.7 years, SD = 1.5) completed assessments on their mental health. Regression analysis revealed experiences directly related to COVID-19 did not affect general well-being or quality of life, but anxiety, depression, and significant insomnia did. Social well-being was lower for student-athletes closer to graduation (e.g., juniors, seniors), independent of reported anxiety and depression levels. These findings highlight the importance of psychosocial support, particularly in times of crisis, and indicate that tailored support might be beneficial at later stages of the collegiate years.

scholarly journals The Relationship Between Mental Toughness, Job Loss, and Mental Health Issues During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dara Mojtahedi ◽  
Neil Dagnall ◽  
Andrew Denovan ◽  
Peter Clough ◽  
Sophie Hull ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Toughness ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Negative Affective States ◽  
Mental Health Effects ◽  
The Relationship

Concerns toward public well-being and mental health are increasing considering the COVID-19 pandemic's global societal and individual impact. The present study builds on the current body of COVID-19 literature by examining the role of mental toughness (MT) in predicting negative affective states (depression, anxiety and stress) during the pandemic. The study also examined the effects of changes in employment on mental health and MT. Participants (N = 723) completed a battery of questionnaires including the Mental Toughness Questionnaire 48-item, The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale – 21 items. Participants reported relatively higher levels of depression, stress and anxiety in comparison to pre-COVID-19 samples from previous research, with respondents who had lost their jobs during the pandemic reporting higher levels of negative affective states. Despite this, mentally tough individuals appeared to report lower levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Moreover, moderation analyses identified some interaction between MT and employment status when predicting depression, anxiety and stress. Our findings suggest that MT may have some utility in reducing the adverse mental health effects of the pandemic on individuals, however, further longitudinal research is needed to support these implications.

scholarly journals Can athletes be tough yet compassionate to themselves? Practical implications for NCAA mental health best practice no. 4

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0244579
Author(s):  
Andreas Stamatis ◽  
Paul J. Deal ◽  
Grant B. Morgan ◽  
Jeffrey S. Forsse ◽  
Zacharias Papadakis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Toughness ◽  
Psychological Constructs ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Toughness Index ◽  
First Time

Recent tragic events and data from official NCAA reports suggest student-athletes' well-being is compromised by symptoms of mental health (MH) disorders. Self-compassion (SC) and mental toughness (MT) are two psychological constructs that have been shown effective against stressors associated with sports. The purpose of this study was to investigate SC, MT, and MH in a NCAA environment for the first time and provide practical suggestions for MH best practice No.4. In total, 542 student-athletes participated across Divisions (Mage = 19.84, SD = 1.7). Data were collected through Mental Toughness Index, Self-Compassion Scale, and Mental Health Continuum–Short Form. MT, SC (including mindfulness), and MH were positively correlated. Males scored higher than females on all three scales. No differences were found between divisions. SC partially mediated the MT-MH relationship, but moderation was not significant. Working towards NCAA MH best practice should include training athletes in both MT and SC skills (via mindfulness).

scholarly journals The relationship between mental health self-efficacy and mental well-being in England, UK: A Cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederike Katharina Lemmel ◽  
Rebecca Jones ◽  
Sonia Johnson ◽  
Anita Jolly ◽  
Miriam Miller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background. Mental well-being is an essential concept in research and public health as it is recognised as an indicator of population mental health and quality of life. Previous studies have provided evidence that general self-efficacy is positively related to mental well-being. The aim of this study is to examine whether higher help-seeking self-efficacy and higher psychological well-being self-efficacy respectively, are associated with increased mental well-being.Methods. In this cross-sectional study 1795 adults from the general English population were recruited from a market research panel to fill out an online questionnaire between 24th September 2018 and 05th October 2018. Two simple linear regression analyses were used to investigate the relationship between each of help-seeking self-efficacy and psychological well-being self- efficacy as exposure variables and mental well-being as the outcome. Multiple imputation by chained equations was used to handle missing data.Results. No evidence was found for an association between either help-seeking self-efficacy or psychological well-being self-efficacy and mental well-being.Conclusions. These findings do not provide evidence that improving help-seeking or psychological well-being self-efficacy could lead to improving well-being. Methodological limitations, such as unmeasured confounders might be responsible for the lack of evidence in this study. Having a mental health condition is a potential negative confounder that might not have been measured adequately.

The Role of Stigma and Referral Source in Predicting College Student-Athletes’ Attitudes Toward Psychological Help-Seeking

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel S. Wahto ◽  
Joshua K. Swift ◽  
Jason L. Whipple
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Student ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Referral Source ◽  
Public Stigma ◽  
Help Seeking Attitudes ◽  
College Student Athletes

The purposes of this study were to (a) examine the relationships between public stigma, self-stigma, and mental health help-seeking attitudes in college studentathletes, and (b) test whether referral source would have an impact on student-athletes’ willingness to seek mental health help. Participating college student-athletes (n = 43) completed an online survey including measures of stigma (public and self), attitudes, and willingness to seek mental health help. The results indicated that public stigma and self-stigma predicted a significant proportion of variance in attitudes (66%) above and beyond gender and treatment-use history. In addition, student-athletes were more willing to seek help when referred by a family member compared with a coach (d = 0.89), a teammate (d = 1.05), or oneself (d = 1.28). The results have important implications for helping student-athletes seek mental health help when there is a need.

scholarly journals A Program to Reduce Stigma Toward Mental Illness and Promote Mental Health Literacy and Help-Seeking in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Student-Athletes

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graig M. Chow ◽  
Matthew D. Bird ◽  
Nicole T. Gabana ◽  
Brandon T. Cooper ◽  
Martin A. Swanbrow Becker
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽  
Division I ◽  
Group Setting ◽  
Seeking Help ◽  
The Impact

Student-athletes are susceptible to mental health problems that disrupt optimal functioning and well-being. Despite having many protective factors, student-athletes represent an at-risk subgroup of college students who experience mental health concerns due to the distress of balancing multiple obligations. However, many student-athletes underutilize psychological services. Stigma is the main barrier preventing student-athletes from seeking help, and mental health literacy (MHL) interventions addressing knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders have traditionally been used to destigmatize mental illness. This study investigated the impact of a 4-week program on stigma, MHL, and attitudes and intentions toward seeking help with 33 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I student-athletes. The program was composed of four science-based interventions—MHL, empathy, counter stereotyping, and contact—delivered face-to-face within a group setting. MHL, attitudes toward seeking help, and intentions to seek counseling improved from preintervention to postintervention and to 1-month follow-up. Self-stigma was reduced from preintervention to postintervention.

Computer-Mediated Communication and Mental Health

2020 ◽  
pp. 78-110
Author(s):  
Adrian Meier ◽  
Emese Domahidi ◽  
Elisabeth Günther
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Disciplinary Boundaries ◽  
Emerging Trends ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Systematic Database

The relationship between computer-mediated communication (e.g., Internet or social media use) and mental health has been a long-standing issue of debate. Various disciplines (e.g., communication, psychology, sociology, medicine) investigate computer-mediated communication in relation to a great variety of negative (i.e., psychopathology) and positive (i.e., well-being) markers of mental health. We aim at charting this vast, highly fragmented, and fast growing literature by means of a scoping review. Using methods of computational content analysis in conjunction with qualitative analyses, we map 20 years of research based on 1,780 study abstracts retrieved through a systematic database search. Results reveal the most common topics investigated in the field, as well as its disciplinary boundaries. Our review further highlights emerging trends in the literature and points to unique implications for how future research should address the various relationships between computer-mediated communication and mental health.

Supporting the Mental Health and Well-Being of First Responders from Career to Retirement: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Erin Smith ◽  
Greg Dean ◽  
Lisa Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Well Being ◽  
First Responder ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviors ◽  
Holistic Approaches ◽  
Pubmed Database ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Introduction: First responders are at greater risk of mental ill health and compromised well-being compared to the general population. It is important to identify strategies that will be effective in supporting mental health, both during and after the first responder’s career. Methods: A scoping review was conducted using the PubMed database (1966 to October 1, 2020) and the Google Scholar database (October 1, 2020) using relevant search terms, truncation symbols, and Boolean combination functions. The reference lists of all relevant publications were also reviewed to identify further publications. Results: A total of 172 publications were retrieved by the combined search strategies. Of these, 56 met the inclusion criteria and informed the results of this overview paper. These publications identified that strategies supporting first responder mental health and well-being need to break down stigma and build resilience. Normalizing conversations around mental health is integral for increasing help-seeking behaviors, both during a first responder’s career and in retirement. Organizations should consider the implementation of both pre-retirement and post-retirement support strategies to improve mental health and well-being. Conclusion: Strategies for supporting mental health and well-being need to be implemented early in the first responder career and reinforced throughout and into retirement. They should utilize holistic approaches which encourage “reaching in” rather than placing an onus on first responders to “reach out” when they are in crisis.

Pathos and Orchestration in Elite Sport: The Experiences of NCAA DI Student-Athletes

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 344-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Raabe ◽  
Tucker Readdy ◽  
Rebecca A. Zakrajsek
Keyword(s):  
Student Athletes ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Division I ◽  
Elite Sport ◽  
Optimal Outcomes ◽  
Semistructured Interviews

Coaching is characterized by an inherent pathos between the goals coaches hope to accomplish and those that are realized (Jones & Wallace, 2005). Coaches can actively enhance the likelihood of optimal outcomes through orchestration, a process of incremental coping intended to create improvement in performance (Jones & Wallace, 2005). The current study explored to what extent pathos also manifests in the lives of elite athletes and whether they engage in processes consistent with orchestration. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I student-athletes. Primarily deductive analysis of the qualitative data provided confirmation for four domains: (a) sources of ambiguity created by coaches, (b) other sources of ambiguity within student-athletes’ experiences, (c) attempted strategies for orchestrating the pathos, and (d) relationships are crucial for navigating the pathos. The findings potentially offer an approach to understanding the challenges athletes face, which allows coaches to more accurately provide assistance.

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