NCAA survey of 23,000 student-athletes shows mental health concerns have lessened post-pandemic
INDIANAPOLIS — An NCAA survey of student-athletes shows they are experiencing fewer mental health issues than at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but some demographics have shown more improvement than others.
Between September 2022 and June 2023, more than 23,000 student-athletes participated in the NCAA Student-Athlete Health and Wellness Study. The data shows that mental health concerns have decreased across all three NCAA divisions.
In men's sports, 17% of respondents say they feel constantly overwhelmed, up from 25%, and 16% report feelings of mental exhaustion, up from 22%. The most significant declines occurred among men in Division I.
The declines were smaller among women. It showed that 44% of female sports participants reported feeling overwhelmed (up from 47%) and 35% felt mentally exhausted (up from 38%).
As studies from 2020 and 2021 have shown, students of color, those who identify on the queer spectrum, and those who identify as transgender or non-binary, once again self-reported mental health challenges at higher rates.
“As schools continue to enhance their mental health services while promoting an environment of wellness, student-athletes will continue to reap the benefits of seeking wellness and mental health care,” said Brian Hainline, the NCAA's chief medical officer. “That said, we need to better understand the gap in perceived mental health issues between male and female student-athletes.”
The leading cause of mental health concerns is related to academics, the survey found. While planning for the future, financial concerns, playtime and family concerns were also key factors negatively impacting their mental health.
Other findings: 40% of female sports participants and 54% of male sports participants said they would feel comfortable talking to their coach about mental health issues, a drop of nine percentage points for women and eight percentage points for men.
Nearly 70% of all student-athletes reported having people on campus they can trust to provide support when needed, although only about 50% reported feeling comfortable seeking support from a credentialed chaplain healthcare provider on campus.
The full study will be released next month at the 2024 NCAA convention in Phoenix.
Overall, student-athletes identified the areas of proper nutrition, mental well-being, good sleep, weight management and body image as topics that coaches and administrators should spend more time discussing with their student-athletes.
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