Böcker av Matthew David Bird

Collegiate athletes experience mental health concerns at similar rates to non-athletestudents, however, the student-athlete population underutilizes professional mental health helpwith only 10% of those in need seeking services. Criticisms of the extant research on studentathletemental health help-seeking include studies that lack theoretical guidance, andconvenience samples who are not experiencing a mental health issue. The aim of this study wasto conduct a theoretically driven investigation assessing factors of help-seeking associated withthe Health Belief Model and Reasoned Action Approach while sampling student-athletes whoidentified as currently experiencing a personal or emotional health concern. More specifically,the purpose of this study was to investigate which factors of help-seeking behavior predict thelikelihood that a student-athlete will seek professional help, and to identify the differences inhelp-seeking factors between student-athletes with a lower likelihood of seeking help comparedto those with a higher likelihood of seeking help. Participants were 269 NCAA student-athleteswho completed an online survey assessing factors related to their help-seeking behavior. Amultiple liner regression reveled that perceived benefits, perceived susceptibility, and perceivedattitudes factors were significant predictors of the likelihood that a student-athlete would seektreatment. Results from a one-way MANOVA showed significant differences between the lowerlikelihood and the higher likelihood of seeking help group on the perceived seriousness,perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, instrumental barriers, stigma-related barriers, andthe perceived attitudes factors. Additional information gathered in this study suggests the mostfrequently reported factors which prevented student-athletes from seeking help include a beliefthe issues they are experiencing is not that serious, or a desire to seek help from a source otherthan a mental health professional. Findings from this study have implications for athleticdepartments, campus counseling centers, and future interventions designed to enhance mentalhealth help-seeking.