Student-Athlete Preferences in Seeking Help When Confronted with Sport Performance Problems
in The Sport PsychologistClick name to view affiliation
This study’s purpose was to evaluate athlete willingness to seek help from various sport-titled and non sport-titled individuals when confronted with three common sport performance problem scenarios: midseason slump, return from serious injury, and desire to perform more optimally. Athlete intervention preferences were also assessed. Data were collected on a stratified (by gender) random sample of 60 NCAA Division I athletes. Using an observable one-point difference on a nine-point Likert-type scale and a corresponding moderate to large main effect (Cohen’s d < .40), results indicated that for all scenarios, athletes preferred seeking help from a coach over sport-titled professionals, whereas sport-titled professionals were preferred over counselors and clinical psychologists. Goal setting and imagery were the preferred interventions. Hypnosis and medication were less preferred. The discussion focuses on sport-related professional titles and athlete education to enhance service acceptability.
Sameep D. Maniar <smaniar@wvu.edu> is now with the Department of Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, and Counseling Psychology, PO Box 6122, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506-6122; Lewis A. Curry is with the Department of Health and Human Performance at the University of Montana, Missoula; John Sommers-Flanagan is the Director of Families First in Missoula, MT; James A. Walsh is with the Department of Psychology at the University of Montana, Missoula.
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