Student-Athletes’ Mental Health Help-Seeking Experiences: A Mixed Methodological Approach

ABSTRACTThis study investigated six National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I student-athletes’ experiences of seeking help for a mental health concern using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a conceptual framework. A convergent mixed methodological design was utilized. Qualitative data was collected to gain an in-depth understanding of help-seeking, while quantitative data was collected to identify the most salient factors of the HBM. Results from the qualitative data identified numerous themes related to each factor of the HBM. Quantitative data may suggest that perceived benefits of seeking help and self-efficacy to seek treatment are important factors of help-seeking.