The Relationship between Social Problem-Solving and High-Risk Health Behaviors among Collegiate Athletes

Abstract

The unique “pressures” of collegiate athletes place them “at-risk” for making health-enhancing decisions. Health-compromising behaviors typically reported among student athletes are substance use, eating disorders, violence, sexual promiscuity, and inattentive self-care. Past research has also found an association between negative health behaviors (i.e., chemical dependency, alcohol abuse, eating disorders, distress) and problem-solving deficiencies among young people. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social problem-solving and high-risk health behaviors of male and female intercollegiate athletes. The Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised was used to measure social problem-solving motivation, styles, and skills. A modified version of the College Health Risk Behavior Survey was used to measure high-risk health behaviors. Athletes were categorized as high (positive) and low (negative) problem solvers based on the SPSI-R score to determine if differences existed on health behaviors. Statistical analysis of variance indicated that significant differences existed between these two groups on the composite health score as well as three of the five health scales. Results indicate that collegiate athletes would benefit from problem-solving training as part of a health education program designed to increase coping skills and decrease engagement in health-compromising behaviors.