Promoting Psychological Well-Being among Collegiate Student-Athletes during Injury Rehabilitation:
Strategies for Athletic Trainers
Keywords:
student-athletes, psychological well-being, mental health, injury rehabilitation, athletiec trainingAbstract
Athletic trainers are often the front line in providing support to collegiate student-athletes during injury rehabilitation. While research has demonstrated that student-athletes perceive their athletic trainers as sources of psychological support, less research has been devoted to specific strategies for athletic trainers to utilize during injury rehabilitation while remaining within their score of practice. Thus, the current study aimed to understand what kind of psychological support collegiate athletes look for from athletic trainers throughout injury rehabilitation. Participants were six NCAA Division 1 student-athletes (50% women; 83.3% white). After completing a brief, online survey assessing demographics and sport and injury history, participants completed a 30-minute zoom interview answering open-ended, qualitative questions regarding psychological well-being during injury rehabilitation. Researchers analyzed the interview responses following standard guidelines for thematic analysis. Interview responses culminated into four main themes: 1) Understanding the Range of Emotional and Psychological Reactions; 2) Fostering Positive Mindsets; 3) Emphasizing the Process of Healing; and 4) Creating Environments Conducive to Healing. Results suggest that the most effective strategies for athletic trainers responding to student-athletes’ psychological needs during injury rehabilitation involve maintaining positive relationships with their athletes, fostering positive mindsets, mutual dedication to return-to-play, and creating supportive athletic training room environments.
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