First Advisor

Johnson, Brain D.

First Committee Member

Wright, Stephen L.

Second Committee Member

Anderson, Jacqueline

Third Committee Member

Stellino, Megan B.

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Document Type

Dissertation

Date Created

8-2025

Department

College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Applied Psychology and Counselor Education, APCE Student Work

Abstract

Prior research identified a strong connection between experiences of being a collegiate student-athlete with mental health-related struggles; however, little research has been conducted into how the competing identities of student and athlete within a heavy identity developmental period (emerging adulthood) might be impacting mental-health interference. The purpose of this quantitative study was to understand how emerging adulthood, student identity, athletic identity, and the conflicting role of student-athlete identity had in mental health interference on training, competition, and willingness to see a sports psychologist within collegiate student-athletes as well as how self-compassion moderated these relationships. The following research questions guided this study:

Q1 How does self-compassion moderate the relationship between emerging adulthood and athlete mental health interference?

Q2 How does self-compassion moderate the effect of athlete identity on athlete mental health interference?

Q3 How does self-compassion moderate the effect of student identity on athlete mental health interference?

Q4 How does conflict in athlete and student identity impact athlete mental health interference?

While 120 NCAA Division 1 collegiate student-athletes completed self-report questionaries on experiences related to emerging adulthood, self-compassion, student identity, and athletic identity, only 81 of the 120 participants further completed questionnaires on mental health interference on training, competition, and willingness to see a sport psychologist. A hierarchical linear regression with 81 participants revealed a significant effect related to student identity impacting mental health interference as well as several correlational relationships with emerging adulthood. Implications of these findings for clinical work, the field of counseling psychology, and future research were discussed.

Abstract Format

html

Keywords

emerging adulthood; self-compassion; student identity; athlete identity; collegiate student-athlete; mental health interference; sport psychologist

Places

Greeley, Colorado

Extent

153 pages

Local Identifiers

Shields_unco_0161D_11345.pdf

Rights Statement

Copyright is held by the author.

Digital Origin

Born digital

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