Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

PhD

College

College of Applied Human Sciences

Department

Sport and Exercise Psychology

Committee Chair

Samuel Zizzi

Committee Co-Chair

Dana Voelker

Committee Member

Brent Oja

Committee Member

Sofia Espana Perez

Abstract

Despite the NCAA’s ongoing efforts to guide athletic departments into providing sufficient mental health support to student-athletes, psychological well-being continues to be a primary area of concern for collegiate athletes. Student-athletes are as likely as the regular college population to experience mental health issues, but less likely to seek services (Watson, 2005). Researchers have continued to examine the perceived barriers preventing student-athletes from utilization of mental health services which include a lack of knowledge, limited access, and perceived negative stigma (e.g., Harris & Maher, 2023; Yoon & Petrie, 2023). Organizational culture–loosely defined as a group’s accumulated shared learning in which adopted actions and ideologies are all designed to help increase the success of the organization (Schein & Schein, 2017)--plays a significant role in the way it binds its stakeholders and guides their behaviors. Therefore, developing a positive athletic department culture surrounding mental health can be beneficial in increasing student-athlete help-seeking behaviors. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the employed practices of Division I athletic departments and how stakeholders perceive and experience the layers of culture (artifacts, beliefs and values, underlying assumptions; Schein & Schein, 2017) surrounding mental health. A dual-case study approach was used, and multiple sources of data were collected including semi-structured/focus group interviews (N=14 participants), archival documents, physical artifacts, and direct observation (Stake, 1995). Data was analyzed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clark, 2006) and revealed overarching themes of visibility, integration, and leadership support as imperative factors in changing athletic department culture and reducing mental health stigma. These findings highlight the most significant interacting elements of athletic department culture (Schroeder, 2010) that impact the sub-culture related to mental health. Practical recommendations for future researchers and applicable suggestions for mental health providers and athletic administrators are presented to improve athletic department culture for effective mental health support.

Download

Share

COinS