Sports psychology

College Athletes: MH relation to SP

BRADSHAW

1

College Athletes: Mental Health in Relations to Sports Psychologists

Research Topic Selection Assignment

Tia Bradshaw

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

PSY6064: PRO SEMINAR ADV PSY

Fall 2021

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

College Athletes: MH relation to SP

BRADSHAW

2

My Research/ Interests

My research involves the relationship between sports psychology counseling and how it

effects athletic performance. I aim to identify how effective sports psychology can be among a

college athletes’ mental health in terms of stress, depression, and anxiety and how that correlates

with their performance in their respective fields. Also, this study will examine how negative

internal factors such as anxiety, depression, and stress can be improved through a sports

psychologist, leading to possible higher levels of performance.

Research Questions

1. What is sports psychology and the benefits it has on college athletes?

2. How many college athletes are effected by negative mental health factors such as stress,

anxiety, and depression and what are the causes of them? (Can be assessed through self

surveys, interviews, etc.)

3. Do levels of performance differ depending on higher or lower levels of anxiety,

depression, and stress assessed?

List of Variables

1. Independent Variable

a. Sports Psychologist- College athlete relation

2. Dependent Variables

a. Progression of mental health factors (anxiety, depression, and stress)

b. Enhancement of performance levels

Methodological Approach

College Athletes: MH relation to SP

BRADSHAW

3

This study will rely on mixed methods that combine both qualitative and quantitative

data. This will allow a combination of interviews and statistics used in the study for the best

possible results.

Outline

Introduction

Sports Psychology (Section 1)

Sports Psychology: What is Sports Psychology? This section will discuss what sports psychology

is, how it can help athletes, and some reasons more individuals do not attend a sports

psychologist.

Foundational knowledge. Discuss the importance of sports psychology. What are positives

to it? What are negatives to not having a sports psychologist? Also how it can affect athletes

mentally as well.

• Look up statistics about the % of College athletes (overall from all levels of competition)

that have been to a sports psychologist vs. not going.

Athletes that Suffer from Mental Health Issues (Section 2)

Discuss an overall review of positive and negative levels of mental wellness in college athletes.

Anxiety, Depression, and Stress. This section will examine what may cause a college

athlete anxiety, depression, or stress and causes of them.

• Discuss feelings of athletes

• Examine why they continue to play or finish their sport

• Review statistics of college athletes that suffer from mental health in sports

College Athletes: MH relation to SP

BRADSHAW

4

Athletic Performance levels (Section 3)

Discuss the correlation between negative mental state factors and performance levels. Also,

specific approaches that can be taken through a sports psychologist for improvement.

• Examine concepts and/or methods used to enhance performance levels

• Statements of the effectiveness of these ideas

Theoretical approach

RQ and Hypothesis

I hypothesize that college athletes benefit from sports Psychology and that it effects their mental

health positively allowing their performance levels to advance.

College Athletes: MH relation to SP

BRADSHAW

5

References

Clement, Damien, PhD,A.T.C., C.C.-A.A.S.P., Granquist, Megan D,PhD., A.T.C., and Monna Arvinen-

Barrow. "Psychosocial Aspects of Athletic Injuries as Perceived by Athletic Trainers." Journal

of Athletic Training, 48(4), 2013, 512-21.ProQuest,

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/famu.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-

journals/psychosocial-aspects-athletic-injuries-as/docview/1424347221/se-2?accountid=10913.

Fitch, T. J., & Robinson, C. R. (1998). Counseling and development interventions with college athletes:

A proposed model. Journal of College Student Development, 39(6), 623. Retrieved from

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/famu.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-

journals/counseling-development-interventions-with-college/docview/195170587/se-

2?accountid=10913

Goldberg, A. D., & Chandler, T. (1995). Sports counseling: Enhancing the development of the high

school student-athlete. Journal of Counseling and Development : JCD, 74(1), 39. Retrieved from

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/famu.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-

journals/sports-counseling-enhancing-development-high/docview/219009238/se-

2?accountid=10913

Goldstein, J. D., & Iso-Ahola, S. (2006). Promoting sportsmanship in youth sports: Perspectives from

sport psychology. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 77(7), 18-24. Retrieved

from https://go.openathens.net/redirector/famu.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-

journals/promoting-sportsmanship-youth-sports-perspectives/docview/215757725/se-

2?accountid=10913

Kumar, P., & Shirotriya, A. K. (2010). 'Sports psychology' a crucial ingredient for athletes success:

Conceptual view. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 44(Suppl_1), i55–i56.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2010.078725.186

Ludwig, M. M. (1996). A sport psychology perspective. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation &

Dance, 67(5), 31. Retrieved from

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/famu.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-

journals/sport-psychology-perspective/docview/215768631/se-2?accountid=10913

Maby, R., & Brady, G. (1996). Sports related Leadership. Journal of Leadership Studies, 3(1),

131–137. https://doi.org/10.1177/107179199600300112

Miller, G. M., & Wooten, H. R. (1995). Sports counseling: A new counseling specialty area.

Journal of Counseling & Development, 74(2), 172–173. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-

6676.1995.tb01845.x

Mottola, M. (2020). Athletic identity, psychological flexibility, and motivation for return to sport in

injured NCAA athletes. (Order No. 27956437, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville).

ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, , 44. Retrieved from

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/famu.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-

theses/athletic-identity-psychological-flexibility/docview/2410732393/se-2?accountid=10913

Reverter-Masía, J. (2008). The use of sports psychology consultants in elite sports teams. Revista De

Psicología Del Deporte, 17(1) Retrieved from

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/famu.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-

journals/use-sports-psychology-consultants-elite-teams/docview/2258704859/se-

2?accountid=10913

College Athletes: MH relation to SP

BRADSHAW

6

Robinson, Derek, et al. "The Counselling Needs of Alberta Junior Hockey League Players: Implications

for School Counsellors." Alberta Counsellor, 29(2), 2007, 22-35. ProQuest,

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/famu.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/trade-

journals/counselling-needs-alberta-junior-hockey-league/docview/222655704/se-

2?accountid=10913.

Rooney, D., Jackson, R. C., & Heron, N. (2021). Differences in the attitudes to sport psychology

consulting between individual and team sport athletes. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and

Rehabilitation, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-021-00271-7

Smith, A. M., & Link, A. A. (2010). Sport psychology and the adolescent athlete. Pediatric Annals,

39(5), 310–316. https://doi.org/10.3928/00904481-20100422-12

Winter, G. J. (2007). Sport psychology: The key concepts. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 41(5),

340. Retrieved from

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/famu.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-

journals/sport-psychology-key-concepts/docview/1779014384/se-2?accountid=10913