2025: Empowering the Future through Education, Diversity, and Hope

Perceptions of athletes vs non-athletes on the college athlete experience

Taylor Ross, Gonzaga University

Location

Hemmingson Ballroom

Start Date

15-4-2025 11:15 AM

End Date

15-4-2025 12:15 AM

Description

Athlete culture describes the unique set of stressors and experiences that collegiate athletes encounter (Despres et al., 2008; Reich et al., 2021). Due to this, student athletes face several mental health challenges, though they tend to not feel comfortable seeking help (Leimer et al., 2014). Non-athlete students tend to think negatively of their student athlete peers, and student athletes are often aware of these negative perceptions (Stone, 2012). As we know, groups and perceptions severely impact a college student's experience. The goal of this study was to determine whether there was a significant difference between non-athletes’ perceptions on athlete privilege as opposed to athletes’ perceptions. This could be beneficial information for college counselors to consider when counseling student athletes, as these differences in perceptions could be an influencing factor in deterring student athletes from seeking support for their mental health, as well as for college students and professors to understanding how group perceptions impact peers or students.

Comments

Poster Session A

Publication Date

2025

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Apr 15th, 11:15 AM Apr 15th, 12:15 AM

Perceptions of athletes vs non-athletes on the college athlete experience

Hemmingson Ballroom

Athlete culture describes the unique set of stressors and experiences that collegiate athletes encounter (Despres et al., 2008; Reich et al., 2021). Due to this, student athletes face several mental health challenges, though they tend to not feel comfortable seeking help (Leimer et al., 2014). Non-athlete students tend to think negatively of their student athlete peers, and student athletes are often aware of these negative perceptions (Stone, 2012). As we know, groups and perceptions severely impact a college student's experience. The goal of this study was to determine whether there was a significant difference between non-athletes’ perceptions on athlete privilege as opposed to athletes’ perceptions. This could be beneficial information for college counselors to consider when counseling student athletes, as these differences in perceptions could be an influencing factor in deterring student athletes from seeking support for their mental health, as well as for college students and professors to understanding how group perceptions impact peers or students.