Looking forward to student-athlete mental health: Racial/ethnic trends from 2010 to 2015

Objective: This study examined trends in functionally impairing depression, significant anxiety, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among college student-athletes across time, racial/ethnic group, and student-athlete standing. Participants: The sample consisted of 39,840 White, Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American, and Multiracial students who reported participating in varsity level college athletics in the past 12 months during the Spring 2010-2015 administrations of the American College of Health Association National College Health Assessment II. Methods: Chi-square and difference in proportion tests compared mental health rates across time, racial/ethnic groups, and student-athlete status (student-athlete versus non-athlete). Results: Findings suggested a lack of differences in mental health rates between 2010 and 2015, with the exception of a higher rate of anxiety for White student-athletes in 2015. Racial/ethnic comparisons pointed to relatively consistent heightened risks for depression and suicide concerns among Asian/Pacific Islander and Multiracial student-athletes compared to White student-athletes. Student-athlete status appeared most consistently to benefit White student-athletes, whereas there was evidence of potential liability of student-athlete status for Asian/Pacific Islander student-athletes. Conclusions: Results make the case for adopting a racially/ethnically aware cultural lens when conceptualizing mental health risk and resilience among student-athletes.

Automated summary

This study found no significant differences in mental health trends among college student-athletes between 2010 and 2015, except for a higher rate of anxiety among White student-athletes in 2015. Asian/Pacific Islander and Multiracial student-athletes showed relatively consistent heightened risks for depression and suicide concerns compared to White student-athletes. Student-athlete status appeared to benefit White student-athletes the most, while potentially posing a liability for Asian/Pacific Islander student-athletes.