ABSTRACT
Student-athletes’ athletic and academic identities have been recognized as important determinants to their academic and athletic performance. Yet, there is scarce information on how these two identities may be related to student-athletes’ overall or sport-wellbeing. Therefore, this study examined how student-athletes’ academic and athletic identities are associated with their overall and sport well-being in a US national sample of 241 NCAA Division I student-athletes. We examined whether the relationship between these two identities and well-being would be moderated by student-athletes’ demographics. We also explored whether interruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic affected student-athletes’ overall and sport well-being. Results showed a significant positive relationship between academic identity and overall well-being, and a negative relationship between athletic identity and sport well-being. Additionally, year in school, race, and gender were significant correlates of sport and overall well-being. Finally, results indicated that COVID-19 pandemic was negatively associated with participants’ overall and sport well-being.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Jorge Ballesteros
Jorge Ballesteros, Doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at Arizona State University.
Cristalis Capielo
Dr. Cristalis Capielo, Assistant Professor in the Counseling and Counseling Psychology program at Arizona State University. She graduated in 2016 with a doctorate in Counseling Psychology from The University of Georgia.
Lindsey C. Blom
Dr. Lindsey C. Blom, CMPC, AASP Fellow, Ball State University (BSU) Professor of Sport & Exercise Psychology, Faculty Athletics Representative, and Graduate Program Coordinator is a leading science-practice scholar whose work focuses on using sport for social change with an emphasis on positive youth development and using sport to promote peace at the individual, community, and international levels.
Lindsey Buckman
Dr. Lindsey Buckman, Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist specializing in individual, couples, and family therapy, and maintains a private practice in Phoenix, Arizona.
Adam Kroot
Adam Kroot, 2nd year master student studying Sport Psychology at Ball State University.Jorge Ballesteros, Doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at Arizona State University.