Brian Edwards1, Andrew Froehle1,2. 1. Department of Kinesiology and Health, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA. 2. Department of Orthopaedic and Plastic Surgery, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio, USA.
Abstract
Objective: Compare collegiate athletes to non-athlete students for mental health diagnosis, treatment, and mental health impacts on academic performance. Participants: Students, including club and varsity athletes, from a large Midwestern U.S. NCAA Division 1 university (N = 2167). Methods: American College Health Association (ACHA)-NCHA II (2010-2016) survey data were analyzed using chi square tests for between-groups differences and gender effects on mental health diagnoses, treatment, and academic impacts of mental health. Results: Compared to athletes, non-athletes reported higher rates of anxiety, eating, mood, sleep, and other disorders. Controlling for gender, these differences were not significant. Regardless of gender, athletes sought treatment less often than non-athletes. Athletes reported anxiety, sleep, alcohol/drugs, extracurricular activities and injuries as major academic impediments. Conclusions: Mental health diagnosis rates were lower in athletes, but appeared to be an artifact of gender differences between groups. However, less treatment-seeking and academic impacts mean that ongoing attention to mental health is vital to student-athlete well-being.
Objective: Compare collegiate athletes to non-athlete students for mental health diagnosis, treatment, and mental health impacts on academic performance. Participants: Students, including club and varsity athletes, from a large Midwestern U.S. NCAA Division 1 university (N = 2167). Methods: American College Health Association (ACHA)-NCHA II (2010-2016) survey data were analyzed using chi square tests for between-groups differences and gender effects on mental health diagnoses, treatment, and academic impacts of mental health. Results: Compared to athletes, non-athletes reported higher rates of anxiety, eating, mood, sleep, and other disorders. Controlling for gender, these differences were not significant. Regardless of gender, athletes sought treatment less often than non-athletes. Athletes reported anxiety, sleep, alcohol/drugs, extracurricular activities and injuries as major academic impediments. Conclusions: Mental health diagnosis rates were lower in athletes, but appeared to be an artifact of gender differences between groups. However, less treatment-seeking and academic impacts mean that ongoing attention to mental health is vital to student-athlete well-being.
Entities:
Keywords:
Academics; athletes; mental health; university