The Effects of Athletic Transitions on Identity and Psychiatric Symptomology in a Student-Athlete Sample

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  • May 15, 2019
Creator
  • Martin, Jared
    • Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies Program
Abstract
  • Transition periods in athletics can be potentially detrimental to the psychiatric health and identity of student-athletes in the college environment. Currently, minimal research is available that investigates the changes in psychiatric symptomology and identity during sports transitions such as following an injury, during the athletic off-season, and after retirement from collegiate sports. This study uses a cross-sectional survey to investigate the relationship between these transition periods and psychiatric symptomology in Division 1 NCAA athletes. The survey employed questions regarding depression, anxiety, and disordered eating symptomology in addition to athletic identity and was administered electronically to a sample of current and recently retired student-athletes across a number of sports and disciplines. Significant differences appeared in a number of psychiatric assessments between groups of athletes who differ in injury status (depression score, anxiety score, disordered eating global score, weight concern score, shape concern score), sport type (depression score), and sex (anxiety score, disordered eating global score, weight concern score, shape concern score). Additionally, each possible combination of the four variables of interest (depression score, anxiety score, athletic identity score, and disordered eating global score) were significantly positively correlated. Based on these results, we will be better prepared to understand and potentially mitigate the harmful psychiatric effects of athletic transition periods on collegiate athletes.
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Advisor
  • Bulik, Cynthia
Degree
  • Bachelor of Arts
Academic concentration
  • Interdisciplinary Studies
Honors level
  • Honors
Degree granting institution
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Graduation year
  • 2019
Language
  • English

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