The applied sport psychology field has created a niche for implementing services designed to enhance performance through mental skills training. Further, with the certification process of the Certified Mental Performance Consultant and the impending accreditation of graduate programs, the field is moving to increase systematic quality control. While minimum requirements have been established for didactic coursework, mentored experiences, and the qualifications of who can serve as an approved mentor, gaps exist in the theoretical and foundational grounding of professional mentorship. Many mentors may rely on consultation experience, experience as a mentee, or use intuition, or instinct to inform mentorship. The Association for Applied Sport Psychology had defined mentorship the same as supervision until a new definition was introduced in 2020, yet Association for Applied Sport Psychology’s language continues to borrow from the supervision literature to guide mentors with limited research on what mentors do in sessions and how they relate to mentees, provide feedback, and assess or evaluate competency. Further, there is no structured model of applied sport psychology mentorship that addresses the distinct differences between supervision and mentorship. This manuscript includes extensive literature on mentorship and supervision to create a unique model (Fluid Mentorship Model) to provide the infrastructure for the unique nature of the field of applied sport psychology and mental skills training. A sport, exercise, and performance psychology-specific mentorship model is proposed to serve as a foundation for educating mentors, practicing mentorship, and researching mentorship efficacy.
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Mentorship in Applied Sport Psychology: The Fluid Mentorship Model
Teresa B. Fletcher, Terilyn C. Shigeno, E. Earlynn Lauer, and Danielle C. DiLisio
Volume 19 (2025): Issue 1 (Mar 2025)
Student-Athletes’ Mental Health in the European Sport School Context: A Scoping Review
Milla Saarinen, Michael McDougall, Siv Gjesdal, and Christian Thue Bjørndal
The purpose of this scoping review was to provide an overview of literature exploring adolescent student-athlete mental health in the European sport school context, with particular emphasis on gender. Five databases were searched for relevant literature: PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. In total, 26 peer-reviewed published articles met the inclusion criteria. The review indicated that literature on adolescent student-athlete mental health in Europe is dominated by a preoccupation with mental illness rather than mental health and the use of quantitative and cross-sectional research designs. Many studies reported that student-athletes demonstrated lower prevalence and incidence rates of mental illness symptoms compared to the general youth population. Female student-athletes consistently demonstrated higher prevalence of mental illness symptoms compared to males. Practitioners working with adolescent student-athletes can improve their mental health literacy to understand mental health beyond the confines of mental illness and target key areas of burnout and the female experience of mental health.
Coaches’ Observations of Eating Disorder Symptoms Among Athletes: Initial Validation of the Norwegian Translated Athlete Eating Psychopathology Observation Questionnaire
Irina Diaz de Leon and Sebastian S. Sandgren
Eating disorders (EDs) pose serious health and performance risks and are especially prevalent among athletes. Coaches, who are crucial in supporting athletes’ well-being, often lack knowledge and awareness of ED symptoms. We aimed to translate the Athlete Eating Psychopathology Observation Questionnaire to Norwegian to explore which symptoms of eating psychopathology coaches in Norway observe among their athletes and how the observation of these symptoms might differ. A forward–backward translation was conducted, and a total of 311 coaches (52% male) were included. Factor Analysis revealed a 16-item, four-factor solution (Negative Affect, Dieting Practices, Fear of Eating, Compulsive Exercise). Participants most frequently reported observing symptoms related to Negative Affect and coaches with more coaching experience were more likely to observe symptoms of eating psychopathology. On average (Athlete Eating Psychopathology Observation Questionnaire global score), more coaches reported not observing symptoms (76%) compared with those who were sure they had observed symptoms among their athletes (24%). We encourage future researchers to use and evaluate the Athlete Eating Psychopathology Observation Questionnaire further. It is important for coaching programs and coaches’ professional development to prioritize education on EDs and disordered eating. Consequently, coaches may improve their knowledge, awareness, and ability to detect symptoms of EDs in athletes.
Perceived Team Motivational Climate, Athletic Identity, and Academic Endeavors Among High School Athletes
Jacob M. Chamberlin, Mary D. Fry, Haiying Long, and Susumu Iwasaki
The purpose of this study was to examine whether athletes’ perceptions of a caring (C) and task-involving (TI) sport climate significantly predict their career decision self-efficacy; career exploration and engagement; academic support from coaches and teammates; and athletic and academic identity, after controlling for athletes’ demographic information. High school athletes (N = 228; 75 females and 146 males) completed a survey that included the measures of interest. A series of hierarchical regression analyses revealed that students’ perceptions of a C/TI climate were positive predictors of their career decision self-efficacy (TI), academic identify (TI), and coach support of their academics (C/TI). The findings of this study build on the work of Poux and Fry published in 2015 with college athletes. When coaches foster a C/TI climate, they may be promoting holistic development of their athletes by encouraging them to invest in their academic program and prepare for future careers.
Sport and School Burnout in Norwegian Lower Secondary School Student-Athletes: A Person-Oriented Approach
Milla Saarinen, Daniel J. Phipps, Gro Jordalen, and Christian Thue Bjørndal
The study examined burnout profiles in adolescent student-athletes based on sport and school burnout symptoms. We explored whether psychological distress, self-esteem, athletic identity, and student identity were associated with these profiles, accounting for age, gender, and type of sport. Participants included 642 student-athletes from Grades 8–10 (age 12–14, 57% males and 43% females) in eight Norwegian sport schools. Using latent profile analysis, we identified five profiles: mild sport and school burnout (46%), high burnout (22.5%), well-functioning (17.9%), predominantly school burnout (8.6%), and predominantly sport burnout (5%). Female student-athletes and those in Grades 9–10 were more at risk. Low self-esteem and high psychological distress increased the likelihood of burnout in sport and school, while a strong student identity seemed to protect against school burnout. These findings suggest that combining competitive sport with education at an early age may put student-athletes at risk for burnout symptoms in sport and school.
Perfectionism, Burnout, and Depressive Symptoms in Youth Soccer Players: Moderation by Empowering and Disempowering Climates
Andrew P. Hill, Esmie P. Smith, and Howard K. Hall
Youth soccer players face considerable pressure as they pursue a successful career in the sport. Research shows that some players navigate these pressures better than others, with the immediate coaching environment playing a key role. We examined the relationship between different perfectionism subtypes, and burnout, and depressive symptoms in youth soccer, and whether perceptions of empowering and disempowering climate moderated these relationships. Two-hundred and sixty-six youth male soccer academy players completed measures of perfectionism, burnout, depressive symptoms, and empowering and disempowering climate. Moderated regression analyses typically supported the hypotheses of the 2 × 2 model and differentiated between subtypes for burnout and depressive symptoms. A more empowering climate also decreased one aspect of burnout—devaluation—in three of four subtypes. The findings show that some perfectionism subtypes are related to higher burnout and depressive symptoms in youth soccer, and an empowering climate might help reduce burnout for most subtypes.
Acceptability of Mindfulness With National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Student-Athletes: A Pilot Study
Peter J. Economou, Chad McGehee, Chelsea Torres, Scott Anderson, and Jennifer Sanfilippo
Researchers have found that mindfulness meditation can reduce stress and anxiety, support physical and mental well-being, and reduce risk of injuries for student-athletes. Limited research exists on the utilization of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) with National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I student-athletes; no studies on the acceptability of mindfulness with this student-athlete population have been conducted, despite the increased application of MBIs within university settings. The researchers conducted this pilot study to understand whether Division I student-athletes from a Power Five conference (now known as Power Four conferences) found MBIs acceptable. Two-thirds of the sample believed that MBIs were acceptable. This acceptance spanned across sport and gender, although there were no statistically significant differences between groups. Implications from this pilot study call for the consideration of integration of MBIs into the organizational, team, and sport culture and further support the use of MBIs with National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I student-athletes.
Relationships Among Physical Self-Concept Profiles, Orthorexia Nervosa, and Exercise Addiction in Crossfitters
Alejandro Oliver-López, Marta Vega-Díaz, Andrea Sáenz, and Higinio González-García
The study aimed to examine physical self-concept profiles in Spanish crossfitters and whether these profiles were related to orthorexia nervosa and exercise addiction. A sample of 208 crossfitters (M age = 34.46; SD = 9.18; 119 men) completed a series of self-report measures. A latent profile analysis was performed, and two profiles emerged as the most suitable option: (a) an average physical self-concept profile (n = 94) and (b) an average-high physical self-concept profile (n = 114). Results revealed that (b) the average-high self-concept profile showed higher scores in exercise addiction and orthorexia nervosa than (a) the average physical self-concept profile. Furthermore, the chi-square test revealed significant differences between genders in profile pertinence, in which females pertained more to (a) the average self-concept profile. In conclusion, these results contribute to the understanding of physical self-concept in CrossFit athletes, emphasizing the importance of considering individual profiles and gender differences when addressing aspects related to mental health and extreme behaviors in the sporting context.
Positive Experiences Among Elite Athletes in Finland: Associations With Basic Psychological Needs, Sport Conditions, and Background Factors
Satu S. Kaski and Ulla Kinnunen
This research aimed to study the prevalence of PERMA experiences (Positive emotions, Engagement, (positive) Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment) among elite athletes in Finland (n = 2,045) and factors that are potentially connected to these experiences. The results indicated that, depending on the PERMA component, 40%–52% of the athletes had positive experiences in sports. A total of 42% of the athletes could be classified as flourishing. Feeling competent in sports was positively related to all PERMA experiences. The safe atmosphere of the team seemed to be of greater importance for PERMA components than coach behavior. Belonging to a minority group was negatively related to all positive experiences except for Engagement. Our results suggest that strengthening of athletes’ feeling of competence is essential in promoting positive experiences in sports, which are important for athletes’ functioning and success. In addition, sports organizations should pay more attention to how to strengthen equality and equity in sports.
