Student-athletes Research Articles

College student athlete versus nonathlete mental and social health factors during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: This study investigated differences in stress, anxiety, and social support between collegiate student-athletes and nonathletes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: College students enrolled at a NCAA Division III private liberal arts college in the Midwest. Methods: Participants (n = 58) completed a series of surveys each month for 4 months that included the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale Questionnaire, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support Questionnaire. Results: There were significant main effects of time for stress and social support across the 4 months (p < 0.05), but not for anxiety. There was a significant difference in anxiety levels between athletes and nonathletes (p < 0.01), but not for social support or stress (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Nonathletes maintained support networks, or found alternate outlets of support, in addition to coping with anxiety and stress levels when compared to athletes.

Prior Concussion History and Clinical Recovery After Sport-Related Concussion in High School Athletes.

Clinical recovery after sport-related concussion varies as a function of pre-injury and acute factors. Whether, or the extent to which, concussion history is associated with clinical outcome after sport-related concussion is uncertain, because research has produced mixed findings. The present study aimed to assess whether a history of previous concussions was associated with prolonged clinical recovery after a subsequent sport-related concussion. The sample comprised 780 adolescent student athletes (mean age = 16.3, standard deviation = 1.3 years; 56.8% boys, 43.2% girls) whose school participated in the Maine Concussion Management Initiative (MCMI). Survival analyses were used to compare recovery times among adolescents with a history of 0, 1, or ≥2 previous concussions after a subsequent sport-related concussion. The two primary outcomes of interest were the number of days to return to school and sports. There were no statistically significant differences in total time to return to school and sports, or the proportion of adolescents who returned to school and sports at most intervals (e.g., 7, 14, 28 days), between those with 0, 1, or ≥2 previous concussions. A greater proportion of adolescents, however, with a history of ≥2 previous concussions remained out of sports at 28 days compared with those with no previous concussions (23.5% vs. 12.7%; odds ratio [OR] = 2.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-3.73). Having sustained prior concussions was not associated with time to return to school after a subsequent sport-related concussion. A greater proportion of adolescents, however, with two or more previous concussions experienced a prolonged return to sports. Further research is warranted to identify risk factors for worse outcomes among the subset of adolescents with a history of multiple previous concussions who experience prolonged recoveries.

The Development and Effectiveness of Non-face-to-face Self-regulation Training Program for Student-athletes

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to develop a non-face-to-face self-regulation training program for middle and high school student-athletes through the conduct of a group online video counseling session, as well as to verify the effectiveness of such a tool. METHODS Based on the models of Zimmerman(2000) and Han Si-wan (2008), the 12-session non-face-to-face self-regulation training program consisting of interactions involving cognitive, emotional, and behavioral factors was developed and used on a 16-member experimental group. Additionally, self-regulation and mental toughness questionnaires were given to each member before and after the program, and the results were compared with the results of a 17-member control group. Since a qualitative evaluation was conducted, recorded training contents were organized into a text file; after which, a step-by-step coding procedure was performed, and then meanings and themes were identified and categorized. RESULTS Quantitative analysis found that the volitional inhibition mode of the control group decreased significantly; this was in comparison to the increase in the self-regulation mode of the experimental group. In addition, among the seven sub-factors of the mental strength test of the experimental group, a significant increase was found in the post-test of self-belief, attention control, emotional regulation, resilience, and optimism factors. As a result of qualitative data analysis, they complained of difficulties in the early stages of participation, but gradually recognized their problems and searched for changes, showed changes in cognition, emotion, and behavior as they approached the end of the study period. CONCLUSIONS It can be said that the non-face-to-face self-regulation training program helped student athletes improve their school life and performance by driving positive cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes.

중도탈락 운동선수의 새로운 진로 경험에 대한 자문화기술지

This study describes the importance of basic academic skills of elite sports athletes and the improvement and realization of student athlete policies by describing secondary physical education teachers’ student athlete days, new career exploration and preparation process, and result experiences as secondary physical education teachers through self-cultural descriptions. It aims to find out how. As a research method, I tried to interpret it based on the retrospective memory of ‘I’ as a researcher and research participant as a self-cultural description and the result experience as a secondary physical education teacher. The results of this study are presented as follows. First, it was found that student-athletes’ academic disregard and lack of basic academic ability began when they were part of the school sports team and learned their culture. Second, college athletes who felt uncertain about the future decided to drop out, and thereafter, there is difficulty in exploring and challenging new career paths. Third, the dysfunction of elite sports is being repeated in schools. As a conclusion, first, the minimum educational attainment system needs to be reformed and objectivity for subjects secured, and the minimum educational attainment system to be improved for the issue of equity arising from differences in levels and evaluation methods of each school. Second, it is necessary to study the change in perception that student athletes, parents, and school sports departments are policy beneficiaries, and the selection criteria for student athletes to belong to school sports teams. Third, it is necessary to meaningfully apply the minimum grade system for the college entrance exam and the minimum academic level standard so that studies and sports can be combined.

Depression among Athlete Students and Differences by Gender at Physical Education of Bengkulu University in 2022

The Indonesia National Adolescent Mental Health Survey (I-NAMHS), over a third of all adolescents (34.9%) reported a mental health problem, with depression in third position in mental health problems (5.3%). High levels of physical activity and low sedentary behavior of athlete students have been associated with improved self-concept and reduced mental health problems, such as depression. As a result, depression has received little attention in this population. To describe the prevalence of symptoms of depression among athlete students at a single university. This cross-sectional study was administered to undergraduate students enrolled in physical education, faculty of teacher training, and education at the University of Bengkulu. Participants (n=70) completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and a demographic questionnaire. Differences in symptoms of depression were calculated by gender. The prevalence of symptoms of depression, as measured on BDI-II, was 36%, and there is no significant gender difference in the prevalence of symptoms of depression (p&gt;0.05, distributed between male and female participants (52% women and 24.4% men). The BDI-II identified the prevalence of symptoms of depression among athlete students. The symptoms of depression in female students were higher than in male students.

학생선수 e-School의 효과적 운영 양상 탐색

The purpose of this study is to explore the effective operation cases of e-School for student-athletes and to derive policy insights through this. To achieve this, two student-athletes who effectively utilize e-School in their academic studies and two supervising teachers responsible for each student’s athletic club were selected as research participants. The data collected through in-depth interviews were analyzed according to the coding process presented in the grounded theory. The results are as follows: First, e-School was effective in compensatory learning and academic achievement experience for student-athletes. Second, effective internal factors were e-School learning content sufficiently aligned with the respective school curriculum and the functions of mock exams and unlimited learning. Third, effective external factors were student athletes' motivation for learning and a friendly learning environment. Based on these results, the effectiveness of e-School as a learning tool, the need for providing learning experiences that reflect the characteristics of student-athletes, and the need for various reforms to create a friendly learning environment for the school athletic club were discussed.

The measurement of college athletes’ knowledge and behavior on pre- and post-workout nutrition utilizing a text message intervention

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure college student athletes’ nutrition knowledge and behavior before and after a text message-based educational intervention. Participants: Athletes (n = 35) participated by completing a pre- and post-intervention survey. Methods: This survey gathered information on ability to identify carbohydrate and protein food sources, pre-and post-workout intake, and behavior. Text messages were sent during the 4-week intervention and included information regarding the importance of carbohydrate consumption before training, and a carbohydrate-protein mixture for recovery. Results: Dependent t-tests revealed a lack of statistically significant increases in total knowledge (p = 0.156) or behavior (p = 0.177), but an increase in the behavior questions regarding efficacy of carbohydrate before training (p = 0.026) and carbohydrate and protein after training (p = 0.016). Conclusion: This suggests the text message educational intervention did influence behavioral outcomes. Future research should focus on the effectiveness, length, and frequency of the text message intervention, and investigate the athletes’ willingness to change dietary behaviors.

Intractable Epilepsy Controlled by Neurofeedback and Adjunctive Treatments: A Case Report

This case report documents the treatment of a female patient with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy with secondary generalization. At the age of 13, the patient was hospitalized with ~120 seizures in a day, some of which were life-threatening. After hospital discharge, despite a regimen of multiple antiseizure medications, the patient still experienced ~90 seizures per day. After the interventions described in this work, over 500 neurofeedback sessions guided by EEG or qEEG data and adjunctive treatments including mental skills coaching, the patient became seizure- and medication-free, progressing from poor academic performance and inability to carry out normal daily life to attending university as a student athlete playing an NCAA Division I sport. This case emphasizes that, with professional guidance and supervision, it is possible for people with epilepsy or their caregivers to provide the extensive, long-term neurofeedback and adjunctive training necessary for reduction and control of intractable seizures.

Sporcu - Öğrencilerin Öz yeterlik Düzeylerinin Akademik Başarıya Etkisinin Lojistik Regresyon Analizi İle İncelenmesi

Athlete-students faced with both athletic and academic demands may identify more strongly with their academic or athletic roles, depending on a number of influential factors. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of self-efficacy, gender and age of athletes- students on their academic achievement. In the research, the self-efficacy scale adapted to Turkish by Öcal (2022) and the academic achievement averages of the athletes-students were used as data collection tools. The data were collected from a total of 290 university licensed athletes-students studying at the university's faculty of sports sciences. Logistic regression analysis method was used in the analysis of the data. The results showed that high self-efficacy levels of athlete students are an important predictor of their academic achievement. As the age of the athletes increases, their academic success rates also increase; It was found that female athlete students were more likely to fail than male students. Another result is that the more the athletes' perceptions of confidence in their abilities increase, the more likely they are to be academically successful. These results revealed that age, gender, and confidence in their abilities are the determinants of academic success, and athlete self-efficacy is an important factor in the academic success of students during their education. It can be said that the results of the research are an important factor in guiding future research and educational prevention and intervention efforts for athletes.

Instructional Leadership Best Practices in Coaching toward Bukit Jalil Sports School Excellence

Instructional leadership is a model that is often used in managing and administrating a school to influence, guide, and motivate teachers and students towards school excellence. Diverse family backgrounds, religion, and race are significant challenges for coaches and Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) administrators to spur student athletes' excellence in sports. Therefore, the purpose of this write-up is to share the best practices in BJSS from the aspects of; i- monitoring and assessment of coaches' and student athletes’ performance ii- producing excellent coaches with calibre in their sports iii- applying of 3R element among coaches iv- consolidation of spiritual component among student-athletes. Implementing best practices is based on a few strategies, including centralised documentation, executing the lead by example concept, empowering sports coaching, concentration in sports development programs, internationalisation with sports excellence centres from overseas, and self-empowerment in student-athletes. This paper produced four aspects of best practices with the implementation of some programs, which are; a standard and organised documentation system, yearly training program presentations, coaching mentoring program, workshops by Master Coaches, specific sports skills clinic, development of training modules, international sports collaboration program and spiritual based program. The impact of these programs will be able to optimise students' outcomes, enhance the coaching profession and produce student-athletes with principles and identities. This achievement is aligned with aspirations stated in Wave 3 of National Education Blueprint 2013-2025, which drives Sekolahku SEJAHTERA.

Evaluation of a COVID-19 rapid antigen testing program among student athletes in a public high school district

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to evaluate a COVID-19 rapid antigen testing program among high school athletes through testing data and qualitative analysis from key stakeholders. MethodsTesting data was obtained by the partnering school district. Testing staff, coaches, and parents participated in a focus group using a semi-structured focus group guide. Transcripts were analyzed using a grounded theory approach to produce the themes of the study. ResultsRapid antigen tests quickly identified a COVID-19-positive student athlete, which allowed for quick isolation and zero transmission to teammates. Focus groups with parents, testing staff, and coaches indicated the testing program improved perceived safety and demonstrated the ability for school staff to implement a widespread COVID-19 screening program with minimal training. ConclusionsAs schools continue to respond to various waves of COVID-19 infections, targeted testing for high-risk activities in school settings such as sports programs may help prevent school outbreaks during times of high community transmission rates. This evaluation adds to a body of literature that will aid schools and policy makers in their decision on how to best keep student athletes and school communities safe for future waves of COVID-19 infection and other pandemics.

Title IX Information Increases Female Collegiate Athletes' Intent to Seek Help

Female intercollegiate student athletes continue to lack knowledge of their pregnancy rights. Uninformed athletes may react to pregnancy by concealing it or worse, risking their health and the health of their fetus. This study aimed to determine baseline knowledge in a contemporary sample of female athletes and to determine the extent that pregnancy rights information affected intent to seek help for pregnancy. A convenience sample of 146 female student athletes from nine teams at one NCAA Division I university (mean age 20.2 years) responded to an anonymous, online, author-designed survey. Halfway through the survey, pregnancy rights information (the intervention) was provided. Prior to the intervention most participants were unaware of pregnancy rights. If they experienced pregnancy and particularly if they decided to remain pregnant to the completion of their pregnancy, participants expected to be cut from the team, lose financial aid, and be unable to return to the team. Following the intervention, participants were significantly less likely to expect negative consequences and significantly more likely to seek help from athletic staff. Those who were aware of federal pregnancy rights were significantly unlikely to be aware of NCAA protections. A question yet unanswered is who is or should be responsible for ensuring that federal and NCAA pregnancy protections are known to female student athletes who may experience pregnancy. Recommendations to the NCAA and its member schools include more vigorous, effective provision of complete, timely pregnancy rights information.&#x0D;

International Student-Athletes' Psychological and Sociocultural Adjustment Experiences

International college students face psychosocial adjustment challenges transitioning into college, which may be heightened for international student-athletes (ISAs) who also have to adjust to Division I (DI) athletics. Even so, there are limited articles that synthesize the research on this population. Thus, we sought to fill this gap by examining studies focused on the adjustment experiences of ISAs. A qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis is a method used in social work research to synthesize the findings of qualitative studies (Aguirre &amp; Bolton, 2014). We used qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis to conduct an exhaustive search of the literature, construct themes, and synthesize themes of qualitative research regarding ISAs and their adjustment experiences. We identified 11 articles with three overarching themes: (a) acculturative stress, (b) adjustment to the college experience, and (c) adjustment to athletics in the United States. Findings suggest ISAs experience not only transitional stress related to their identities as a student and as an athlete but also from their acculturation experiences. Thus, we propose ISAs transitioning to college experience a ternary-or three way-role negotiation of student identity, athlete identity, and cultural identity. Social workers employed at Division I institutions and within Division I athletic departments have the opportunity to advocate for the needs of this population.

Relevance of university dual career support services – student–athletes’ perspectives

ABSTRACT Rationale/Purpose Universities provide various services supporting athletes pursuing a dual career. This paper focuses on the preconditions of being simultaneously included in elite sport and educational system, aiming to analyse the assessment of such services from the student–athletes’ perspective. Design/Methodology/Approach The data originate from an online survey of 1055 international student–athletes, who participated in the 2019 Winter and Summer Universiades. Based on exploratory factor analysis, support services were grouped into categories. Implementing probit models, the respondents’ perceptions were regressed with their sporting and academic background by controlling for socio-demographic factors. Findings The study identifies three factors of dual career support services in the context of higher education and reveals statistically significant associations between socio-demographic, academic, and sporting career-related factors and the perceived relevance of support services. Practical Implications To get the university context functionalised in favour of student–athletes’ dual careers, tailor-made support should particularly address differences regarding gender, university levels, and types of sport. Research Contribution The study enhances the understanding of dual career challenges, related to the student–athletes’ conflicting roles. It provides evidence that adequate dual career support services at the interfaces of elite sport and higher education need to be individualised according to the athletes’ needs.

Premorbid Risk Factors and Acute Injury Characteristics of Sport-Related Concussion Across the National Collegiate Athletic Association: Findings from the Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium.

Previous sport-related concussion research highlights post-injury characteristics that influence recovery trajectories; however, there is limited information regarding premorbid factors that affect sport-related concussion risk. We aimed to (a) compare premorbid demographic factors among a large cohort of collegiate student athletes who did or did not sustain a sport-related concussion and (b) assess differences in acute injury characteristics based on biological sex and contact level. We conducted a cohort study of university student athletes from 22 sports enrolled in the Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium study from 2014 to 2021 (n = 1804 student athletes with sport-related concussions; n = 21,702 student athletes without sport-related concussions). Statistical analyses indicated student athletes who self-identified as Black (odds ratio [OR] = 1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.42, 1.81) or multiracial (OR = 1.32; 95% CI 1.10, 1.59) demonstrated greater odds of experiencing sport-related concussions than White-identifying student athletes. Additional findings suggest male athletes (OR = 1.47; 95% CI 1.20, 1.81) and contact sport student athletes (OR = 1.40; 95% CI 1.16, 1.70) may be at increased odds for sport-related concussions if they were previously diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder. Notable post-injury characteristics across sexes included differences in the incident loss of consciousness (male: 5.9%, female: 2.6%; p < 0.001), post-traumatic amnesia (male: 13.6%, female: 5.1%; p < 0.001), and retrograde amnesia (male: 6.8%, female: 2.8%; p < 0.001). A greater proportion of contact-sport student athletes experienced an altered mental status (52.7%) than limited contact (36.2%) and non-contact (48.6%) [p < 0.001]. Last, student athletes participating at lower contact levels were more likely to have a longer delay in removal from activity following injury (contact: 73.6 ± 322.2min; limited contact: 139.1 ± 560.0min; non-contact: 461.4 ± 1870.8min; p = 0.005). The present study provides contemporary pre- and post-sport-related concussion injury characteristics using a considerably sized cohort of collegiate student athletes. These findings support previous work suggesting sport-related concussion results in complex individualized clinical presentations, which may influence management strategies.

Correlation of Interest in Learning Against Learning Outcomes in Student Athletics Courses at FIK UNM.

The objectives to be achieved in this research are; To find out whether there is a relationship between learning interest and the achievement of the final results of the Athletics course for Health and Recreation Physical Education students, Faculty of Sports Science, Makassar State University. The population of this study were all 360 PJKR FIK UNM students in the even semester of the 2022 academic year. The sample was taken in this study using porpusive sampling, namely class B students who were temporarily programming Advanced Athletics courses totaling 30 students. This type of research includes descriptive research with correlational research. The variables of this study consist of interest in learning as the independent variable and the achievement of the final results of the Athletics course as the dependent variable. Data collection techniques using questionnaire techniques, athletic ability tests, and documentation. After all research data was collected, the data were analyzed using percentage descriptive analysis and correlation analysis using computer facilities through the SPSS program application. The results showed that: There is a significant relationship between learning interest and the achievement of the final results of the FIK UNM Athletics course. FIK UNM students' interest in learning is in the moderate category because it is supported by several factors including; the student attention factor with a percentage of 34.95%, followed by a student interest factor of 31.97%, and finally the student needs factor with a percentage of 33.07%. As for the achievement of the final results of the Athletics course for FIK UNM students, it was found that 46.6% or as many as 14 students had achieved the final results of the Athletics course in the high category, 33.3% or 10 people in the medium category, and 20% or 6 people in low category.

Speech error rates after a sports-related concussion.

Alterations in speech have long been identified as indicators of various neurologic conditions including traumatic brain injury, neurodegenerative diseases, and stroke. The extent to which speech errors occur in milder brain injuries, such as sports-related concussions, is unknown. The present study examined speech error rates in student athletes after a sports-related concussion compared to pre-injury speech performance in order to determine the presence and relevant characteristics of changes in speech production in this less easily detected neurologic condition. A within-subjects pre/post-injury design was used. A total of 359 Division I student athletes participated in pre-season baseline speech testing. Of these, 27 athletes (18-22 years) who sustained a concussion also participated in speech testing in the days immediately following diagnosis of concussion. Picture description tasks were utilized to prompt connected speech samples. These samples were recorded and then transcribed for identification of errors and disfluencies. These were coded by two trained raters using a 6-category system that included 14 types of error metrics. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare the difference in error rates at baseline and post-concussion. Results revealed significant increases in the speech error categories of pauses and time fillers (interjections/fillers). Additionally, regression analysis showed that a different pattern of errors and disfluencies occur after a sports-related concussion (primarily time fillers) compared to pre-injury (primarily pauses). Results demonstrate that speech error rates increase following even mild head injuries, in particular, sports-related concussion. Furthermore, the speech error patterns driving this increase in speech errors, rate of pauses and interjections, are distinct features of this neurological injury, which is in contrast with more severe injuries that are marked by articulation errors and an overall reduction in verbal output. Future studies should consider speech as a diagnostic tool for concussion.

Internal consistency reliability of mental health questionnaires in college student athletes

ObjectivesTo examine the internal consistency reliability and measurement invariance of a questionnaire battery designed to identify college student athletes at risk for mental health symptoms and disorders.MethodsCollege student athletes (N=993)...

A case study of alcohol use among male university rugby players

ABSTRACT In the UK, research has established that student athletes consume greater quantities of alcohol than their non-athlete peers. The published literature suggests the drinking culture in sport is a social phenomenon. At present, however, the evidence does not tell us what the precise mechanisms involved in the production and reproduction of the drinking culture are. To gain a deeper understanding of these mechanisms a case study methodology was used, where a researcher was heavily immersed within a male university rugby environment for a season. Data sources included observation, field-note taking, documentation, conversational interviews, and formal semi-structured interviews. These athletes faced a multitude of pressures encouraging them to drink, and often. Firstly, alcohol use was embedded within athletes’ weekly routine. Over time, drinking became a taken-for-granted ritual of sport. Secondly, specific roles and responsibilities, punishments, and events, were used to ensure athletes complied with the drinking ethos. Thirdly, athletes used alcohol to gain status and reputation. This, however, led to a culture where no behaviours were off limits and led to potentially harmful consequences. Fourthly, institutional factors (such as alcohol price, availability and sponsorship) may have normalised and legitimised a heavy drinking culture. There is a need to confront and challenge the alcohol ethos at this and other similar institutions with a pervasive drinking culture to reduce the potential harm to individual athletes.

Examination of Student Cross-Country Runners’ Task and Ego Orientations, Challenge and Threat Levels

The aim of this research is to examine the level of task and ego orientations, challenge and threat experiences of student cross-country runners as well as investigate their dispositional differences in goal orientations, challenge and threat levels according to demographic variables, and the link between ego orientations and challenge and threat experiences. 118 student-athletes voluntarily participated in this research. Since the data were not normally distributed, the Kruskal-Wallis test was used for group comparisons, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for pairwise comparisons from nonparametric test methods. Results showed no significant differences in the task and ego orientations, challenge and threat levels of the participants in terms of their gender and whether they had a club license (p &gt; 0.05). Significant differences, however, were found in the participants’ task and ego orientation levels (p &lt; 0.05), while there were no significant differences in challenge and threat levels (p &gt; 0.05) in terms of the department studied. There were significant differences in the participants’ task and ego orientations and challenge levels in terms of duration to be an athlete (p &lt; 0.05) but there was no significant difference found in the participants’ threat level (p &gt; 0.05). Overall, the results of this research provided valuable information to sports psychologists, managers, and coaches at universities to guide efforts to improve student athletes’ performance.