Stigma, attitudes, and intentions to seek mental health services in college student-athletes

Abstract

<b>Objective:</b> To investigate predictors of mental health help-seeking as well as identify topics for which college student-athletes are most likely to seek help. <b>Participants:</b> Student-athletes (<i>N</i> = 328) from three Division II and III universities. <b>Method:</b> Participants completed a survey packet on stigma, attitudes, and intentions toward seeking mental health services as well as willingness to seek help for specific topics. <b>Results:</b> Structural equation modeling indicated public stigma was significantly related to self-stigma, self-stigma was related to attitudes, and attitudes were related to intentions. Using logistic regression analysis, self-stigma and attitudes were associated with an increased likelihood of having sought mental health services in the past. <b>Comment:</b> These results can be used to help sport psychologists and other mental health staff develop programing that might increase service use among student-athletes. Using a multifaceted approach that decreases stigma and improves attitudes could have the most meaningful effect on encouraging service use.