35th Annual Student Research Conference
Incidence of Depression Among Division II Collegiate Football Players
Elizabeth D. Twehus♦
Dr. Brandy Schneider, Faculty Mentor
Injuries, performance expectations, and overtraining place athletes at an increased risk of experiencing depressive symptoms. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of depression among Division II collegiate football players and analyze for potential risk factors. An online mental wellness survey, containing the Edinburg depression scale, was used to determine the presence of depressive symptoms and statistical t-tests were used to determine the relationships between variables. One hundred percent of respondents (n = 6) reported they had no depressive symptoms during the 2021 football season, yet 34% of participants exhibited the clinical findings of depression. No significant difference in depressive symptoms was found between injury statuses (t = 0.94) or academic years (t = 0.17). The results of this study indicate depression is prevalent in athletics but is often not recognized by athletes and depression can occur in all athletes no matter their academic year or injury status.
Keywords: Depression, Football, Collegiate, Division II
Topic(s):Athletic Training
Psychology
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 101-1
Location: SUB Alumni Room
Time: 8:30