Date

7-22-2025

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Gilbert Ernest Franco

Keywords

Christian student-athletes, mental health, stigma, social support, spirituality, phenomenology, help-seeking

Disciplines

Psychology | Sports Studies

Abstract

Romans 12:1 tells Christians that their unique physical abilities are gifts from God that should be used to honor Him (New International Version Bible, 1978/2011). Christian racial/ethnic minority student-athletes (CMSAs) often navigate complex intersections of spirituality, identity, and stigma in relation to mental health. Despite growing research in biopsychosocial-spiritual (BPSS) models, CMSAs remain underrepresented in mental health literature. This mixed-methods study explored the willingness of CMSAs to seek on-campus mental health services at a public university in the Southwestern United States. Data was collected through a web-based survey (N = 20) and semi-structured interviews with a subset of participants (N = 3), analyzed using thematic analysis within a phenomenological framework. Research questions focused on lived experiences with mental health services, including perceptions of support, service availability, mental health history, preferred settings, informal care, performance-related needs, and the role of faith. Findings support the relevance of The Optimum Performance Program in Sports (TOPPS), a culturally responsive model that reduces stigma and promotes engagement. Institutions may benefit from adopting similar frameworks that integrate athletic identity, spirituality, and voluntary access to care.

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