Comparing health factors among collegiate athletes and non-athletes and between NCAA divisions and sport type

ABSTRACT

Mental health remains a topic of concern within collegiate athletics, though athletes are perceived to have some protection due to physically active lifestyles. This study compared student-athletes to students who were Greek members and students who did not belong to either a sport team or Greek organization on social connectedness and a range of health measures. The sample of athletes was then analyzed comparing members of Division I and Division III, team or coactive sports, and revenue or non-revenue sports. Results showed athletes perceived better health than non-athletes, and Division I athletes reported poorer mental health than Division III athletes. Additionally, team sport members reported higher anxiety than coactive sport members, and coactive sport members reported more days of poor physical health. It is hypothesized that team sport athletes may feel more social pressure, and coactive sport athletes may adhere less to the sport ethic reinforced in a team setting.

KEYWORDS:

• Mental health
• physical health
• health-related quality of life
• anxiety
• college
• team
• Greek life
• substance use

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jessica Peacock

Jessica Peacock, Ph.D., M.A., is Assistant Dean and Director of Academic Innovation in the College of Arts & Sciences at Shenandoah University, where she also serves as Associate Professor of Exercise Science.