Calm athlete: Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of app-based mindfulness training on collegiate student-athlete mental wellbeing

Danbury, Anne Elizabeth

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/124513 Copy

Description

Title

Calm athlete: Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of app-based mindfulness training on collegiate student-athlete mental wellbeing

Author(s)

Danbury, Anne Elizabeth

Issue Date

2024-04-11

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Gothe, Neha P

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

• Gothe, Neha P
• Petruzzello, Steven J

Committee Member(s)

• Lara-Cinisomo, Sandraluz
• Shamaila, Breanna

Department of Study

Kinesiology & Community Health

Discipline

Kinesiology

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Student-athlete
• Mindfulness
• Stress
• Mental health

Abstract

Introduction: Sport headlines have recently been peppered with stories about professional and collegiate athletes struggling with mental health concerns or suicide. Student-athletes often keep mental health concerns private or too often face negative reactions on social media, and from family and friends when they speak out. Early adulthood is a time when many people experience mental health challenges: 75% of people who will experience a mental illness in their lifetime will have an initial episode before the age of 25. This is highlighted by approximately 80% of college students reporting feeling overwhelmed and unable to manage stressors. Athletics provide additional unique stressors, which can compound the normal stressors of young adulthood. A three-phased study design was used to assess the mental health status of student-athletes, the beliefs and perceptions of student-athlete mental health and available interventions from relevant stakeholders within an athletics department and to evaluate the feasibility of a mobile-app based mindfulness intervention with collegiate student-athletes. Methods: Study 1: An anonymous electronic cross-sectional survey was disseminated to NCAA Division I student-athletes during the spring semester 2022, with 117 responses. The survey included measures of mindfulness, stress, and burnout along with assessments of previous mindfulness use and demographics. Study 2: Three focus group discussions (n = 14), with a mean duration of 64 minutes, were conducted with members of administration, coaches, and support staff from an NCAA Division I athletics department. A semi-structured interview design was implemented with prompts relating to student-athlete mental health, mental health treatment, and mindfulness. Study 3: A single arm design was used. Participants (n = 30) completed a 21-session mindfulness intervention using the Calm app over 6-weeks, focusing on general mindfulness, stress, and anxiety. Assessments of mindfulness, stress, state anxiety, trait anxiety, and burnout were completed at baseline, post-intervention, and at 4-weeks follow up. Feasibility questions were included at post-intervention and follow up, along with user data to assess adherence. Results: Study 1: Moderate levels of stress, burnout and mindfulness were found. Collegiate student-athlete life stress was significantly correlated with COVID related distress (r = .41, p < .001), burnout (r = .44, p < .001), and mindfulness (r = -.56, p < .001). Regression modeling found that mindfulness accounted for significant variance in stress and COVID related distress. Likewise, stress accounted for 49.6% of the variance in burnout (p < .001). Study 2: Focus group discussions identified four themes across two domains: Domain 1: Student-Athlete Stress revealed themes of internal and external stressors, and Domain 2: Mental Health Interventions revealed barriers and facilitators. Common sources of stress identified include demands of sport, academics, and time, as well as life transitions. Stigma, access to mental health care, and awareness of mental health symptoms and resources were seen as some of the barriers and facilitators to help seeking. Study 3: The Calm app was shown to be a feasible method of delivery for a mindfulness intervention with adherence of 95.9% and satisfaction of 93%. There was a significant effect of time (baseline, post-intervention, follow up) for stress, anxiety, and mindfulness. Mindfulness was significantly correlated with all measures of stress, anxiety, and burnout across all three time points. Conclusions: This research has shown that collegiate student-athletes continue to experience moderate levels of stress, anxiety, and low to moderate levels of burnout. However, mindfulness has a protective effect on stress, a known antecedent to burnout. The Calm app was shown to be a feasible and accepted method for delivery of a mindfulness intervention with promising positive effects on stress and anxiety levels. Stakeholders charged with the care, support, and development of student-athletes have accurate assessments of student-athlete mental health, which align with the student-athletes themselves. Both student-athletes and stakeholders are open to the use of mindfulness training to address distress in this population, which supports future clinical use.

Graduation Semester

2024-05

Type of Resource

Thesis

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2024 Anne Danbury

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