Mental Health Literacy and Confidence in a Sample of Student Athletic Therapists

in Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology

Click name to view affiliation

Philip Sullivan Brock University

Search for other papers by Philip Sullivan in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
*
and
Laura Tennant Brock University

Search for other papers by Laura Tennant in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
*
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2021-0005
Keywords:
athletic therapy; intercollegiate sport; referral efficacy
First Published Online:
17 Sep 2021
In Print:
Volume 17: Issue 1
Page Range:
1–10
Restricted access

Intercollegiate student-athletes appear to be a high-risk population with respect to mental health. Student athletic therapists are one of the groups with whom these athletes may be comfortable disclosing concerns. The current study investigated the relationship between mental health literacy and mental health referral efficacy in a sample of intercollegiate student therapists. One hundred and eleven student athletic therapists (81 female, 29 male, 1 nondiscloure) competed a revised version of the multicomponent mental health literacy measure and a four-item measure of mental health referral efficacy. T tests revealed statistically significant differences in mental health literacy by gender and personal history, and a multiple linear regression revealed a significant model predicting referral efficacy from mental health literacy. There are several implications of these results, particularly when working with a high-risk population of student-athletes.

The authors are with the Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada.

Sullivan (phil.sullivan@brocku.ca) is corresponding author.
  • Collapse
  • Expand

Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology

Cover Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology

  • Arnold, R., & Fletcher, D. (2012). A research synthesis and taxonomic classification of the organizational stressors encountered by sport performers. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 34(3), 397–429. PubMed ID: 22691400 doi:10.1123/jsep.34.3.397

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bauman, N.J. (2016). The stigma of mental health in athletes: Are mental toughness and mental health seen as contradictory in elite sport? British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(3), 135–136. PubMed ID: 26626270 doi:10.1136/bjsports-2015-095570

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bird, M.D., Chow, G.M., & Cooper, B.T. (2020). Student-athletes’ mental health help-seeking experiences: A mixed methodological approach. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 34(1), 59–77. doi:10.1080/87568225.2018.1523699

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Breslin, G., Shannon, S., Haughey, T., Donnelly, P., & Leavey, G. (2017). A systematic review of interventions to increase awareness of mental health and well-being in athletes, coaches and officials. Systematic Reviews, 6(1), 1–15. doi:10.1186/s13643-017-0568-6

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Cheng, H.L., Wang, C., McDermott, R.C., Kridel, M., & Rislin, J.L. (2018). Self-stigma, mental health literacy, and attitudes toward seeking psychological help. Journal of Counseling and Development, 96(1), 64–74. doi:10.1002/jcad.12178

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Coles, M.E., Ravid, A., Gibb, B., George-Denn, D., Bronstein, L.R., & McLeod, S. (2016). Adolescent mental health literacy: Young people’s knowledge of depression and social anxiety disorder. Journal of Adolescent Health, 58(1), 57–62. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.09.017

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Cox, C.E., Ross-Stewart, L., & Foltz, B.D. (2017). Investigating the prevalence and risk factors of depression symptoms among NCAA Division I collegiate athletes. Journal of Sports Science, 5, 14–28.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Giovannetti, S.L., Robertson, J.R., Colquhoun, H.L., & Malachowski, C.K. (2019). Mental health services for Canadian university student-athletes: An Exploratory survey. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 13(3), 469–485. doi:10.1123/jcsp.2018-0048

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Gorczynski, P., Currie, A., Gibson, K., Gouttebarge, V., Hainline, B., Castaldelli-Maia, J.M., … Swartz, L. (2021). Developing mental health literacy and cultural competence in elite sport. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 33(4), 387–401. doi:10.1080/10413200.2020.1720045

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Gorczynski, P., Gibson, K., Thelwell, R., Papathomas, A., Harwood, C., & Kinnafick, F. (2019). The BASES expert statement on mental health literacy in elite sport. The Sport and Exercise Scientist, 59, 6–7.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Gouttebarge, V., Castaldelli-Maia, J.M., Gorczynski, P., Hainline, B., Hitchcock, M.E., Kerkhoffs, G.M., … Reardon, C.L. (2019). Occurrence of mental health symptoms and disorders in current and former elite athletes: A systematic review and meta- analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53(11), 700–706. PubMed ID: 31097451 doi:10.1136/bjsports-2019-100671

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hampson, W.J., Flint, F., Laws, J.P., & Kenny, J.P. (2014). The role of athletic therapists in the health care of physically active Ontarians: Now and in the future (White Paper). Retrieved from https://ontarioathletictherapists.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/White%20Paper%20-%20April%202014.pdf

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jaworska, N., De Somma, E., Fonseka, B., Heck, E., & MacQueen, G.M. (2016). Mental health services for students at postsecondary institutions: A national survey. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 61(12), 766–775. PubMed ID: 27310230 doi:10.1177/0706743716640752

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jorm, A.F. (2012). Mental health literacy: Empowering the community to take action for better mental health. American Psychologist, 67(3), 231–243. doi:10.1037/a0025957

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jorm, A.F., Korten, A.E., Jacomb, P.A., Christensen, H., Rodgers, B., & Pollitt, P. (1997). “Mental Health Literacy”: A survey of the public’s ability to recognize mental disorders and their beliefs about the effectiveness of treatment. Medical Journal of Australia, 166(4), 182–186. doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.1997.tb140071.x

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jung, H., von Sternberg, K., & Davis, K. (2016). Expanding a measure of mental health literacy: Development and validation of a multicomponent mental health literacy measure. Psychiatry Research, 243, 278–286. PubMed ID: 27423635 doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2016.06.034

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kim, J.E., Saw, A., & Zane, N. (2015). The influence of psychological symptoms on mental health literacy of college students. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 85(6), 620–630. doi:10.1037/ort0000074

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kutcher, S., Wei, Y., & Coniglio, C. (2016). Mental health literacy: Past, present, and future. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 61(3), 154–158. PubMed ID: 27254090 doi:10.1177/0706743715616609

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lee, H.Y., Hwang, J., Ball, J.G., Lee, J., Yu, Y., & Albright, D.L. (2020). Mental Health Literacy affects mental health attitude: Is there a gender difference? American Journal of Health Behavior, 44(3), 282–291. PubMed ID: 32295676 doi:10.5993/AJHB.44.3.1

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • López, R.L., & Levy, J.J. (2013). Student athletes’ perceived barriers to and preferences for seeking counseling. Journal of College Counseling, 16(1), 19–31. doi:10.1002/j.2161-1882.2013.00024.x

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Neal, T.L., Diamond, A.B., Goldman, S., Klossner, D., Morse, E.D., Pajak, D.E., … Welzant, V. (2013). Inter-association recommendations for developing a plan to recognize and refer student-athletes with psychological concerns at the collegiate level: An executive summary of a consensus statement. Journal of Athletic Training, 48(5), 716–720. PubMed ID: 24067154 doi:10.4085/1062-6050-48.4.13

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • O’Connor, M., & Casey, L. (2015). The Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS): A new scale-based measure of mental health literacy. Psychiatry Research, 229(1–2), 511–516. PubMed ID: 26228163 doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2015.05.064

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • O’Connor, M., Casey, L., & Clough, B. (2014). Measuring mental health literacy–a review of scale-based measures. Journal of Mental Health, 23, 197–204.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Professional Role Definitions. (2021). CSPA-ACPS.org. Retrieved from https://0a7430a9-f16f-43da-81a5-e2b82fdf2ab5.filesusr.com/ugd/2a9225_01f3bb0f24aa40b886294a9eef7e48bd.pdf

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Reardon, C.L., Hainline, B., Aron, C.M., Baron, D., Baum, A.L., Bindra, A., … Engebretsen, L. (2019). Mental health in elite athletes: International Olympic Committee consensus statement (2019). British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53(11), 667–699. PubMed ID: 31097450 doi:10.1136/bjsports-2019-100715

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Sebbens, J., Hassmén, P., Crisp, D., & Wensley, K. (2016). Mental health in sport (MHS): Improving the early intervention knowledge and confidence of elite sport staff. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 911. PubMed ID: 27445887 doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00911

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Sport Psychology. (2021). APA.ORG. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/sports#:∼:text=Theory%20and%20research%20in%20social,and%20counseling%20issues%20with%20athletes

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Sudano, L.E., Collins, G., & Miles, C.M. (2017). Reducing barriers to mental health care for student-athletes: An integrated care model. Families, System, & Health, 35(1), 77–84. doi:10.1037/fsh0000242

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Sullivan, P., Blacker, M., Murphy, J., & Cairney, J. (2019). Levels of psychological distress of Canadian university student-athletes. Canadian Journal of Higher Education, 49(1), 47–59. doi:10.47678/cjhe.v49i1.188192

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Sullivan, P., Murphy, J., & Blacker, M. (2021). The Psychometric Properties of the Multicomponent Mental Health Literacy Measure with a sample of student athletes and student athletic therapists. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 33(3), 343–356. doi:10.1080/10413200.2019.1702119

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • USports. (2020). Mental health best practices. Retrieved from  https://usports.ca/uploads/hq/Medical/USports_mentalHealthDoc_2020_EN_digital.pdf

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Van Slingerland, K.J., Durand-Bush, N., & Rathwell, S. (2018). Levels and prevalence of mental health functioning in Canadian university student-athletes. Canadian Journal of Higher Education, 48(2), 149–168. doi:10.47678/cjhe.v48i2.188105

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wolanin, A., Gross, M., & Hong, E. (2015). Depression in athletes: Prevalence and risk factors. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 14(1), 56–60. PubMed ID: 25574886 doi:10.1249/JSR.0000000000000123s

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 1993 881 25
Full Text Views 290 253 19
PDF Downloads 119 72 1