The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how community college student-athletes who reside in the central California area describe how mindfulness training has influenced their psychological well-being. The conceptual framework comprised mindfulness-acceptance and commitment (MAC) to provide the theoretical foundation. MAC…

The number of college athletes in the US has gradually increased, and in the 2020-2021 academic year, a record high of approximately 480,000 athletes participated in NCAA sports (NCAA Research, 2024). Along with this growth, scholars have highlighted various factors influencing college athletes' career development (e.g., career maturity, athletic…

The present study is building off preliminary results in a previous study on college athletes in which positive religious coping moderated the relationship between disordered eating symptoms and competitive attitudes in NCAA Division II athletes (DeVere, 2021). However, further research is needed to gain a greater understanding of the factors…

The purpose of this qualitative, case study research project is to explore international student-athletes' experiences at U.S. higher education institutions, probing how well nonimmigrant visa holders are prepared for postgraduate success through their college experiences. Six collaborators engaged in photo elicitation interviews to provide…

Collegiate athletics are vital to higher education. However, student-athletes face the challenge of balancing their dual roles, with their academic identities becoming less salient over time. Despite this, research indicates the benefits of participation in sport, including physiological, psychological, and educational. Additionally, the skills…

Athlete voice is fundamental to good governance; however, sports organisations have been slow to involve young people in safe sport initiatives. In Lithuania, the location of this study, athlete welfare issues are rarely discussed, and the development of a safe sport environment is new to the policy agenda. This project aimed to empower a cohort…

This dissertation shares the voices of five Black female student-athletes who have attended Division I (DI), Predominately White Institutions (PWI) in the Southern part of the United States. In the ongoing discourse of collegiate athletics and the context of southern institutions and their structures of injustice, one must hear the thoughts and…

With numbers over half a million, student-athletes are a significant, yet unique, population on college campuses. They encounter unique experiences and face unique challenges, not the least of which is navigating the competing roles of student and athlete. Navigating these roles within the high-stakes and competitive world of collegiate athletics…

Student-athletes have long been a population of interest to researchers regarding identity development and academic success. More specifically, researchers have looked into the identity foreclosure of student-athletes; its impact on academic success, motivation, and career outlook; and differences of this foreclosure among student-athletes. Most…

The purpose of this study was to examine whether there was a statistically significant (p < 0.05) difference in student-athletes' resilience by whether they attended religious or secular higher education institutions. The study utilized data from the 2018 Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership (MSL) survey, which was completed by 8,163…

This dissertation examines the self-perceived career goal achievement capabilities of African-American former Division I basketball players through the lens of Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy (CDMSE) and its impact on their post-athletic career decisions. Through a phenomenological approach, this study aims to contribute a nuanced…

Objective: Determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student-athletes. Participants: Participants (n = 238) were Division III student-athletes (18-24yrs) enrolled at a Pennsylvania State University campus during the Fall 2020 semester. Methods: Student-athletes were emailed a link of a 43-question survey which was deployed using Qualtrics®.…

In higher education, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I student-athletes are a unique student population tasked with satisfying their athletic and academic identities. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of student-athlete academic support services associated with career readiness and career…

Objective: To investigate predictors of mental health help-seeking as well as identify topics for which college student-athletes are most likely to seek help. Participants: Student-athletes (N = 328) from three Division II and III universities. Method: Participants completed a survey packet on stigma, attitudes, and intentions toward seeking…

Intercollegiate athletics are an integral element of higher education in the United States. They serve a critical role in fostering students' sense of comradeship while promoting competitive play among campuses and institutions. Despite such programs' significance in enhancing a spirit of sportsmanship in higher education, few psychological…