Help-Seeking and Help-Giving In Student-Athletes: Efficacy and Quality

Abstract

Mental health concerns are growing within collegiate athletics. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate (1) help-seeking and help-giving sources of athletes, (2) the quality of athlete help-giving, (3) and the ability of self-efficacy, other-efficacy, and RISE to predict help-seeking and help-giving sources and the quality of athlete help. An online survey (comprised of efficacy beliefs, help-seeking and help-seeking intentions, and an open-ended help-giving quality question) was completed by 124 Division 1 women's soccer players (M = 19.91 SD =1.36). The open-ended help-giving quality question was rated using the teen Mental Health First Aid Action Plan. Frequency counts revealed that student-athletes were most likely to seek help from mental health professionals (82.3%) and teammates (77.4%). They were also most likely to refer others to mental health professionals (88.7%) and other teammates (70.2%). Athlete's help-giving quality was moderate (M = 4.78 on a range of 0-10). Hierarchal regressions revealed self-efficacy significantly predicted help-seeking (b = .233 p <.05) and help-giving (b = .657, p <.05). Further, self-efficacy (b = .796, p <.05) and other-efficacy (b = -.106, p <.05) predicted help-giving quality. Results from this study support the need for adequate mental health resources for student-athletes and a need for increased training to better prepare athletes to feel confident to assist their peers with mental health issues.