Student-Athlete and Student Non-Athletes’ Stigma and Attitudes Toward Seeking Online and Face-to-Face Counseling

in Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology

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Matthew D. Bird Florida State University

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Graig M. Chow Florida State University

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Gily Meir Florida State University

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Jaison Freeman Florida State University

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2017-0010
Keywords:
counseling attitudes; mental health; online-counseling; public stigma; self-stigma
In Print:
Volume 12: Issue 3
Page Range:
347–364
Restricted access

This study investigated differences in stigmatization by others, self-stigma, and attitudes (value and discomfort) toward online counseling (OC) and face-to-face counseling (F2F), and the relationships between these variables, in college student-athletes (n = 101) and non-athletes (n = 101). Results revealed no differences in levels of stigmatization by others and self-stigma between student-athletes and non-athletes. Furthermore, both groups reported higher value, and less discomfort, in F2F compared to OC, while non-athletes reported higher levels of value in F2F compared to student-athletes. A multiple group path analysis revealed no difference in the relationship of the stigma and attitudes variables between the two groups. Stigmatization by others was a significant positive predictor of self-stigma and value in OC. In addition, self-stigma was a significant negative predictor of value in F2F, and a significant positive predictor of discomfort in F2F. The current findings have implications for university counseling centers and athletic departments.

Bird, Chow, Meir, and Freeman are with the Dept. of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL.

Address author correspondence to Matthew D. Bird at mdb14b@my.fsu.edu.
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