Understanding the help-seeking behaviors of student-athletes: Effect of a multidisciplinary healthcare team and the perception of barriers and facilitators for seeking help

Author

Lauren M. SanderFollow

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Date of Graduation

Spring 2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

School of Hospitality, Sport and Recreation Management

Advisor(s)

Julia Wallace Carr

David J. Shonk

Joshua R. Pate

Abstract

This study was aimed at identifying barriers and facilitators that influence help-seeking as well as the effect of implementing an integrated healthcare approach based on current recommendations. A total of 411 student-athletes from 18 intercollegiate teams at a mid-major Division I institution in the mid-Atlantic region completed a 12–item instrument comprised of ten quantitative items and two open-ended questions. The quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS software, and a constant comparative method was used to code responses from the open-ended questions. Findings suggested a prevalence of mental health challenges among student-athletes, especially overwhelming stress, struggles with time management, and anxiety. Female student-athletes seek help more often and are more satisfied with the care they receive from friends, teammates, and athletic trainers. Their male counterparts seek out peers and faculty members for support. There are also gender differences present in the perceptions of barriers and facilitators to seeking care. Qualitative findings were divided into positive help-seeking experiences, negative help-seeking experiences, and neutral/no help-seeking experiences. Conclusions drawn from this study include incorporating stronger and more frequent education on resources for student-athletes, coaches, support staff, and faculty members and establishing a peer support network within the athletics department.

Recommended Citation

Sander, Lauren M., "Understanding the help-seeking behaviors of student-athletes: Effect of a multidisciplinary healthcare team and the perception of barriers and facilitators for seeking help" (2019). Masters Theses, 2010-2019. 595.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/master201019/595