Introduction
The stress from competitive sports is often viewed as an integral part of the activity, as athletes strive to be the best at what they do. However, such rigorous training and the focus on results also leave many participants with long-lasting mental and physical problems. It also changes the way they perceive themselves and the world as a whole.
In college, this process is combined with the young people’s need to succeed academically, develop social connections, and build a path for their future. Thus, the stress related to sports is increased, which can be seen in the United States statistics – the rates of anxiety, depression, and mental exhaustion have significantly elevated in 2020 and remain high (National College Athletic Organization (NCAA) Research, 2022). Student-athletes constantly worry about academic performance, future planning, and financial limitations (NCAA Research, 2022). The problem is even more visible in female college athletes – young women face many issues that result in lifelong mental health effects. The survey of female and male college athletes in 2021 demonstrates that only 25% of men reported being constantly overwhelmed by what they had to do (NCAA Research, 2022).
In comparison, 47% of women agreed with the same statement – almost twice as many as male athletes (NCAA Research, 2022). Other concerns, such as sleep problems, tiredness, loneliness, sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, and more, were higher among female athletes in college (NCAA Research, 2022). This significant difference between the genders and a more negative view of one’s future and present among women indicates a deeper issue that affects female athletes. The recent deaths of five young women participating in college sports – all by suicide – bring further attention to the problems with women’s treatment and mental health in sports (Jags, 2022; Strout, 2022). The background to the concerns raised in the present essay demonstrates the severity of the mental health crisis in academic athletics.
Paper Objectives
The present paper aims to review the potential issues that can explain the prevalence of mental health concerns among female college athletes. Another goal is to understand how these problems lead to high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide among young women and what can be done to mitigate the negative consequences. While the current statistics point to the issue and present a visible difference between the genders’ experiences within the academic sports field, the scholarship surrounding this problem is lacking. Some recent studies research stress levels among men and women and find that female college athletes are exposed to higher risks of mental health issues than males (Bissett & Tamminen, 2022; Walters, 2021). Nevertheless, the connection between the underlying issues is not brought up in many works, and a concise explanation of all factors is rarely considered.
The following essay is structured to analyze each potential problem in detail and present the available evidence to strengthen the overall idea of female athletes’ increased mental pressure. First, the relationship between coaches and athletes will be discussed to underline potential issues and reveal the lack of attention and research. Second, the question of body image, improper eating habits, and eating disorders will be reviewed in connection to sports. Third, the essay will address the problem of sexual assault in college in general and among female athletes in particular, talking about student relationships as well as interactions with coaches and teachers.
Finally, the paper will acknowledge the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has recently changed the sphere of athletics and academic education and influenced all students, including young athletes. The combination of these issues highlights the mental health crisis among female college athletes, and urgent research and changes are necessary to reduce or eliminate its negative consequences.
The Prevalence Factors of Mental Health Concerns Among Female College Athletes
The Coach-Athlete Relationship
The first issue that adds to the current mental health problems of young female athletes is the under-studied relationship between students and coaches. It should be noted that several problems discussed in the following paragraphs are a result of student-coach interactions and are closely tied to this factor. The position of coaches in athletic competitions is to prepare students, guide them through training and participation in events, and develop a discipline that encourages and inspires achievement. This behavior is strongly tied to the spirit of competitiveness and excellence, which a coach also instills in a college athlete.
However, as Bissett and Tamminen (2022) note, coaches often engage in harsh methods for reaching such results and are unequipped to tackle the resulting mental health issues among their students. In particular, female college students report high rates of neglect, abuse, harm, or discouragement through negative comments (Strout, 2022). Examples may be derogatory or criticizing words about strength, ability, or physique. Body image is a separate issue that will be discussed in more detail below, but coaches’ overall behavior may contribute to the deterioration of the relationship.
Furthermore, athletes highlight the need for coaches to obtain additional education about recognizing eating disorders and mental health problems and addressing them with professional help (Jags, 2022; Strout, 2022). Although coaches may be attentive to a female athlete and recognize her stress, they may be unable to deal with the problem effectively.
Student recollections highlight that coaches can be neglectful and ignore the concerns of athletes even if they choose to reach out to their mentors (Bissett & Tamminen, 2022). As a result, the relationship between the student-athlete and their coach may not be built on trust, contributing to the young person’s stress and ability to talk about their issues with qualified professionals. An opposite result follows when coaches recognize the issues and have the necessary knowledge and skills to encourage openness and communication, offering resources and support for the student (Bissett & Tamminen, 2022). Thus, young women’s health depends on their interaction with authority figures in the sports field.
The Impact of Body Image and Eating Disorders on Athletes
The second issue partially related to coach-student interactions is one’s body image. Among female college athletes, the problems related to their bodies and eating habits are much more prevalent than among young men (Buckley et al., 2021; Hart, 2021). While these concerns are present for all genders, women face negative comments about their weight, physique, and other characteristics outside and inside the sports world, and these words may be directly related to their performance.
Studies consistently show higher rates of female athletes, whether current or former, developing an eating disorder or disordered eating patterns (Buckley et al., 2021; Voelker et al., 2019). In particular, weight control plays a great role in most sports – female athletes have to conform to certain expectations in presentation to be considered professionals or eligible candidates for participating in competitive events (Voelker et al., 2019).
Moreover, beauty in contests, such as gymnastics or figure skating, is closely tied to the perception of thinness (Voelker et al., 2019). As a result, female athletes may hear from their coaches about being fat or unprepared for the competition, remarking their figure lacks commitment to sports (Voelker et al., 2019). As a result, such comments may lead a young woman to neglect proper nutrition, develop an eating disorder, and suffer mentally and physically.
Another potential source of body image issues is the inconsistency of expectations between the world of sports and general perceptions of a feminine physique – women may become self-conscious because of being muscular or possessing broad shoulders, for example (Voelker et al., 2019). While necessary for their sports and positive for their performance, these aspects may be viewed negatively outside of the competitions and lead to mental exhaustion and anxiety that is particular to female athletes. Young women, concerned with the combination of these body image problems, may also develop depression and become overwhelmed with their social and athletic expectations. Addressing such perception issues through support and counseling is vital for preventing eating disorders and stress related to body athleticism.
Sexual Assault in College Athletics
Another major problem that affects many women, especially in an academic setting, is sexual violence. Women face a high risk of sexual abuse and assault in all types of communities, but college grounds and facilities show higher rates of such events. According to a study by Wiersma-Mosley and Jozkowski (2019), one in five women has experienced sexual assault while in college. While this statistic does not imply that assault happens on the territory of colleges, it demonstrates that young women become much more vulnerable to abuse while they are students. This issue may be related to the women’s young age or their proximity to shared spaces, where young men and women study and live together.
Research by Bissett and Tamminen (2022) argues that male students who are also athletes in college are more likely to become perpetrators of sexual violence. At the same time, other studies demonstrate that female college athletes are more than twice as likely to become victims of such abuse than non-athletes (Strout, 2022). The combination of these factors places female athletes who participate in training and competition with men at high risk.
However, even young women who do not interact with male students are in increased danger, as professors and coaches are two of the commonly identified perpetrators as well (Strout, 2022). Occupying a position of authority, these adults may expose young students to sexual abuse and use their power to keep the situation unaddressed. Victims may be hesitant to come forward about the incident due to the fear of losing their place in the team or the ability to compete, and many are afraid to lose their scholarships (Strout, 2022).
The combination of assault and financial and social struggles can lead female athletes to develop depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and suicidal ideations (Strout, 2022). The long-lasting effects of sexual violence may expose these young women to post-traumatic stress disorder – women already show higher rates of this condition in comparison to men among college athletes (NCAA Research, 2022; Strout, 2022). The prevention of assault is the primary action that colleges should take, together with psychological support and student education.
The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Influence on Athletics and Education
Finally, the factors mentioned above and the overall mental health concerns became exacerbated in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic began changing the lives of college students. The mandated self-distancing and the closure of public spaces meant that college athletes could no longer train and compete in gyms or close to other individuals. As a result, many athletes could only use their homes for education or training, leaving many unable to participate in any athletic activity. Other college disciplines and activities were also moved online, and all students became confined to their computers and phones. As a result, students, and athletes in particular, experienced more stress than in previous years.
The rates of anxiety and depression went up, especially among female students – the prevalence of anxiety symptoms was about 48% among women and 28% among men (McGuine et al., 2021). Such a stark difference shows that female college athletes were more prone to mental health issues during this period. Young women also expressed that they did not engage in physical activity as much as men and had lower quality of life scores (McGuine et al., 2021). These statistics are consistent with the ones presented by the NCAA Research (2022) provided above.
The consequences of the pandemic are long-lasting, as female college athletes continue to experience higher levels of stress and anxiety than male students. For example, the NCAA Research (2022) survey shows that, in the fall of 2021, 94% of all female athletes felt overwhelmed within the last month, while 36% experienced depression symptoms that obstructed their ability to function. COVID-19 also contributed to female athletes’ body image and disordered eating, as it confined them to their homes and increased their social media use while reducing access to hobbies and athletic competitions (Şenışık et al., 2021). As can be observed, the issues contributing to women’s health crisis in sports were greatly impacted by the onset of the pandemic and its prolonged existence.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the combination of personal stories, statistics, and investigations into the lives of female college athletes demonstrates a crisis of mental health. While all students, male and female, experience difficulty in balancing their social and academic lives, women also encounter a higher risk of body image problems and sexual abuse. In contrast to people not participating in sports, athletes are also exposed to negative relationships with their coaches and the inability to participate in sports during the pandemic. As an outcome, female college athletes represent a group that faces a variety of problems relevant to several categories, experiencing great mental exhaustion as a result.
Young women’s relationship with their coaches may show signs of neglect and harm, leading to them being unable to reach out and receive help if they start developing symptoms of mental issues.
Furthermore, coaches and other people with authority are common perpetrators of sexual violence, exercising their power and limiting students’ ability to talk about these incidents. Apart from that, female athletes struggle with the complex and often contradictory expectations of their physique, developing issues with their body image and the perception of adequacy, femininity, and devotion to athleticism.
Finally, the problems discussed above have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which limited real-life interactions among people and restricted many athletes’ access to training and competitions. Based on these arguments, the need to find solutions for this mental health crisis is urgent – female college athletes should be provided with resources to deal with current concerns and prevent future ones.
References
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