Nonsuicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt among collegiate athletes: Findings from the National College Health Assessment

To evaluate whether collegiate athletes and nonathlete college students differ in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and help-seeking behaviors. Participants: 165,210 respondents to the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment (NCHA), a survey administered to college students by participating institutions during Fall 2011 to Spring 2015. Methods: Single-level binary logistic regression with equality of coefficients tests and chi-square analyses. Results: The models for NSSI and suicide attempt differed slightly between student-athletes and nonathletes. Most notably, stress is a stronger correlate of NSSI (Z = 3.03, p < .01) for nonathletes while difficulties with social relationships is a stronger correlate of suicide attempt for student-athletes (Z=-3.13, p < .01). Conclusion: Our findings highlight the salience of relationship problems as a correlate with suicide attempts in student-athletes. Difficulty in romantic or other social relationships could be a marker of risk or an identifiable, actionable target for preventing future suicidal behaviors among collegiate athletes.

Mental health and substance use of sexual minority college athletes

OBJECTIVE

Assess the mental health and substance use of sexual minority collegiate student-athletes in the United States, as compared with heterosexual college students and heterosexual student-athletes.

PARTICIPANTS

Undergraduate students (N = 196,872) who completed the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment (Fall 2008-Fall 2012 administrations).

METHODS

Written cross-sectional survey.

RESULTS

Sexual minority student-athletes had a higher risk of experiencing mental health difficulties than their heterosexual athlete peers. There were no significant differences in mental health between sexual minority male athletes and nonathletes. Sexual minority female athletes appeared to fare better than nonathlete peers. Substance use was greater among sexual minority students (athlete and nonathlete) and was mediated by mental health.

CONCLUSIONS

Participation in athletics does not appear to be associated with an elevated risk of negative mental health outcomes for sexual minority participants; however, there are disparities in mental health outcomes by sexual orientation regardless of athletics participation.