A Descriptive Look at the Mental Health Literacy of Student-Athletes

Bibliographic Data

ID2349395
AuthorsLauren Beasley (0000-0001-7707-2051, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA, corresponding author), Steven Hoffman (0000-0002-2764-4207, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA)
Year2023
Volume47
Issue3
Pages256-276
Publication date2023-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Sport and Social Issues (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0193-7235 • E-ISSN: 1552-7638
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/01937235231171369
OpenAlexW4367300287
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited67

Mental health literacy (MHL) is a significant component in understanding mental health disparities in vulnerable populations. Due to the unique structure and pressures of American college sport, attention to student-athletes' MHL is critical, especially now that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is requiring member institutions to offer mental health services to their athletes. Utilizing online surveys of both athletes ( N = 205) and non-athlete students ( N = 205), this paper offers a descriptive look at the MHL of student-athletes. We found that both athletes and non-athlete students had above average levels of MHL, but high rates of mental health stigma. With a foundation in contact theory, the paper provides recommendations on how to utilize student-athletes' mental health knowledge to decrease mental health stigma and increase MHL campus wide

Athletes · Medical education · Mental health · Mental health literacy · Mental illness · Physical therapy · Psychiatry · Stigma (botany · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies · Youth Development and Social Support

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