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

Andreas Stamatis,Eric M Scudamore,Zacharias Papadakis,Paul J Deal,Sarah Mckinley-Barnard,Grant B Morgan,Panagiotis Koutakis,Jeffrey S Forsse,Dominic Micklewright

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0244579

Abstract

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).

Highlights

In January 2018, 21-year old Pac-12 football player, Tyler Hilinski, took his own life in his apartment [1]
Descriptive statistics were generated for mental toughness (MT), SC and mental health (MH) scores overall and by gender and division
The findings coalesce around a common theme—MT and SC are distinct, but related, constructs supportive of positive MH in student-athletes across gender and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division

Summary

Introduction

In January 2018, 21-year old Pac-12 football player, Tyler Hilinski, took his own life in his apartment [1]. A year before that, in January 2017, 19-year-old Jordan Hankins, a Big Ten basketball player, died by suicide in her room [2]. Tragic events like these and data from official reports [3] suggest student-athletes’ well-being is compromised by sub-clinical and clinical symptoms of mental health (MH) disorders, such as depression and anxiety. According to the World Health Organization, mental wellness is defined as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community” [4].

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Conclusion