Mental Wellness of Athletes In-Season Compared to Off-Season

Abstract

Collegiate athletes face many stressors throughout their college careers that can impact them in a multitude of ways. One question that remains largely unknown regarding collegiate athletes and stress is whether stress is higher when an athlete is in-season or out of season. To conduct this study, 91 student-athletes at SUNY Brockport were surveyed about their mental status and wellbeing. Student-athletes were asked demographic questions 27 questions adapted from the Beck Depression Scale (Beck, 1961). Athletes in-season and out of season were surveyed in the Fall of 2019 to compare and contrast the results from both seasons. An independent two sample t-test analysis revealed the mental well-being of athletes was impacted more when they are in-season, compared to out of season. The results can help create new policies and recommendations for athletic departments to implement in order to ensure that student-athletes are taking care of themselves both physically and mentally given the demands placed upon student-athletes. Introduction