A Content Analysis of Mental Health Literacy Education for Sport Coaches

in Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology

Click name to view affiliation

Stephen P. Hebard Prevention Strategies, LLC, Jamestown, NC, USA
The Institute to Promote Athlete Health and Wellness, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA

Search for other papers by Stephen P. Hebard in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9789-2698 *
,
James E. Bissett Sport Performance and Psychology Laboratory, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Search for other papers by James E. Bissett in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2152-5706 *
,
Emily Kroshus Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

Search for other papers by Emily Kroshus in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7484-2601 *
,
Emily R. Beamon The Institute to Promote Athlete Health and Wellness, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA

Search for other papers by Emily R. Beamon in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
*
, and
Aviry Reich Limitless Living Counseling and Consulting, PLLC, Greensboro, NC, USA

Search for other papers by Aviry Reich in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
*
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2021-0011
Keywords:
sport coaching; coach education; athlete mental health; help seeking
First Published Online:
17 Nov 2021
In Print:
Volume 17: Issue 2
Page Range:
165–175
Restricted access

Sport coaches can play an influential role in athletes’ mental health help seeking through purposeful communication, destigmatization of mental health concerns, and supportive relationships. To positively engage in these behaviors, coaches require mental health knowledge (or literacy), positive attitudes about that knowledge, and self-efficacy to use that knowledge. Guided by a multidimensional health literacy framework, we conducted a content analysis of web content and scholarly literature to identify health education programming for coaches that addressed athlete mental health. A purposive sample of Olympic National Governing Bodies, collegiate athletic associations, high school sport associations, youth sport governing bodies, and the scholarly literature were analyzed. We found inconsistent programming regarding a range of mental health disorders, behaviors critical to mental health promotion, and critical components of mental health literacy. Implications and next steps for mental health literacy support for coaches are discussed.

  • Collapse
  • Expand

Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology

Cover Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology

  • Armstrong, S., & Oomen-Early, J. (2009). Social connectedness, self-esteem, and depression symptomatology among collegiate athletes versus nonathletes. Journal of American College Health, 57(5), 521–526. https://doi.org/10.3200/JACH.57.5.521-526

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Avenevoli, S., Swendsen, J., He, J.P., Burstein, M., & Merikangas, K.R. (2015). Major depression in the national comorbidity survey-adolescent supplement: Prevalence, correlates, and treatment. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 54(1), 37–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2014.10.010

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bissett, J.E., Kroshus, E., & Hebard, S.P. (2020). Determining the role of sport coaches in promoting athlete mental health: A narrative review and Delphi approach. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 6(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000676

    • 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. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-017-0568-6

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Cheek, C.A., Hill, K., Carlson, J., Lock, J., & Peebles, R. (2015). Weight-related coaching pressures, mental health, sleep, and quality of life in competitive university athletes. Journal of Adolescent Health, 56(Suppl. 2), S88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.10.176

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Eisenberg, D., Downs, M.F., Golberstein, E., & Zivin, K. (2009). Stigma and help seeking for mental health among college students. Medical Care Research and Review, 66(5), 522–541. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077558709335173

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Fearnow-Kenney, M., Wyrick, D.L., Milroy, J.J., Reifsteck, E., Kelly, S.E., & Day, T.F. (2016). The effect of a web-based alcohol prevention program on social norms, expectancies, and intentions to prevent harm among college student-athletes. The Sport Psychologist, 30(2), 113–122. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2015-0016

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Felton, L., & Jowett, S. (2013). “What do coaches do” and “how do they relate”: Their effects on athletes’ psychological needs and functioning. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 23, 130–139. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12029

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Glasgow, R.E., Harden, S.M., Gaglio, B., Rabin, B., Smith, M.L., Porter, G.C., Ory, M.G., & Estabrooks, P.A. (2019). RE-AIM planning and evaluation framework: Adapting to new science and practice with a 20-year review. Frontiers in Public Health, 29, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00064

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Gorczynski, P.F., Coyle, M., & Gibson, K. (2017). Depressive symptoms in high-performance athletes and non-athletes: A comparative meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 51(18), 1348–1354. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-096455

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Gulliver, A., Griffiths, K.M., & Christensen, H. (2010). Perceived barriers and facilitators to mental health help-seeking in young people: A systematic review. BMC Psychiatry, 10, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-10-113

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hegarty, E.M., Weight, E., & Register-Mihalik, J.K. (2018). Who is coaching the coach? Knowledge of depression and attitudes toward continuing education in coaches. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 4(1), 1–7. https//doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000339

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jones, T.V. (2016). Predictors of perceptions of mental illness and averseness to help: A survey of elite football players. Journal of Mental Health, 25(5), 422–427. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638237.2015.1124384

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kessler, R.C., Amminger, G.P., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Alonso, J., Lee, S., & Ustün, T.B. (2007). Age of onset of mental disorders: A review of recent literature. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 20(4), 359–364. https://doi.org/10.1097/YCO.0b013e32816ebc8c

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Krippendorff, K. (2013). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.

  • Kroshus, E., Coppel, D., Chrisman, S.P.D., & Herring, S. (2019). Coach support of high school student-athletes struggling with anxiety or depression. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 13(3), 390–404.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kroshus, E., & Davoren, A.K. (2016). Mental health and substance use of sexual minority college athletes. Journal of American College Health, 64(5), 371–379. https://doi.org/10.1080.07448481.2

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kroshus, E., Garnett, B.R., Baugh, C.M., & Calzo, J.P. (2015). Social norms theory and concussion education. Health Education Research, 30(6), 1004–1013. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyv047

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kroshus, E., & Hainline, B. (2020). Mental health in context: Coaching, organizational and policy approaches to mental health. In G. Hong & E. Rao (Eds.), Mental health in the athlete: Modern perspectives and novel challenges for the sports medicine provider. Springer.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kroshus, E., Wagner, J., Wyrick, D.L., & Hainline, B. (2019). Pre-post evaluation of the “Supporting Student-Athlete Mental Wellness” module for college coaches. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 13(4), 668–685. https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2018-0082

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kutcher, S., Wei, Y., Costa, S., Gusmão, R., Skokauskas, N., & Sourander, A. (2016). Enhancing mental health literacy in young people. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 25, 567–569. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-016-0867-9

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lobb, R., & Colditz, G.A. (2013). Implementation science and its application to population health. Annual Review of Public Health, 34, 235–251. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031912-114444

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mazzer, K.R., & Rickwood, D.J. (2009). Community gatekeepers’ advice to young people to seek help from mental health professionals: Youth workers and sport coaches. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 11(2), 13–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623730.2009.9721783

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • National Federation of State High School Associations. (2020). 2018-2019 High school athletics participation survey. https://www.nfhs.org/media/1020412/2018-19_participation_survey.pdf

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • NCAA Sport Science Institute. (2021). Sport science institute. https://www.ncaa.org/sport-science-institute

  • Pierce, D., Liaw, S.T., Dobell, J., & Anderson, R. (2010). Australian rural football club leaders as mental health advocates: An investigation of the impact of the coach the coach project. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 4(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-4458-4-10

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Putukian, M. (2016). The psychological response to injury in student athletes: A narrative review with a focus on mental health. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(3), 145–148. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-095586

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Rao, A.L., & Hong, E.S. (2016). Understanding depression and suicide in college athletes: Emerging concepts and future directions. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(3), 136–137. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-095658

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Sørensen, K., Van den Broucke, S., Fullam, J., Doyle, G., Pelikan, J., Slonska, Z., & Brand, H. (2012). Health literacy and public health: A systematic review and integration of definitions and models. BMC Public Health, 12(1), 1–13.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Steinfeldt, J.A., Gilchrist, G.A., Halterman, A.W., Gomory, A., & Steinfeldt, M.C. (2011). Drive for muscularity and conformity to masculine norms among college football players. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 12(4), 324–338. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024839

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Thomas, B.H., Ciliska, D., Dobbins, M., & Micucci, S. (2003). A process for systematically reviewing the literature: Providing the research evidence for public health nursing interventions. World Views on Evidence-Based Nursing, 1(3), 176–184. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1524-475X.2004.04006.x

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Van Raalte, J.L., Cornelius, A.E., Andrews, S., Diehl, N.S., & Brewer, B.W. (2015). Mental health referral for student-athletes: Web-based education and training. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 9(3), 197–212. https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2015-0011

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wahto, R.S., Swift, J.K., & Whipple, J.L. (2016). The role of stigma and referral source in predicting college student-athletes’ attitudes toward psychological help-seeking. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 10(2), 85–98. https://doi.org/10.1123/JCSP.2015-0025

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wei, Y., McGrath, P.J., Hayden, J., & Kutcher, S. (2015). Mental health literacy measures evaluating knowledge, attitudes and help-seeking: A scoping review. BMC Psychiatry, 15, 291–310. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-015-0681-9

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wolanin, A., Hong, E., Marks, D., Panchoo, K., & Gross, M. (2016). Prevalence of clinically elevated depressive symptoms in college athletes and differences by gender and sport. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(3), 167–171. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-095756

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 1955 697 78
Full Text Views 295 258 57
PDF Downloads 135 80 7