Last week, Director of Student-Athlete Development and Success, Bethany Crouch, Associate Nursing Professor Dr. Joyce Mikal-Flynn, Ed.D., FNP, and current student-athlete and SAAC Representative, Lauren Wong, attended the 2020 NCAA Convention in Anaheim, Calif. to present on a grant project they had been working on during the past year.
In February 2019, Sacramento State was awarded a $12,500 grant through the NCAA Innovations in Research and Practice Grant Program, designed to enhance college athletes' psychosocial well-being and mental health. The project aimed to create podcasts where both former and current student-athletes would be able to share their experiences on topics including transitioning into college, injury and redshirting, and life after college and sport. Student-athlete participants could volunteer to participate in resiliency and stress mindset surveys amidst listening to all six podcasts.
Crouch and Mikal-Flynn presented to 350 athletics administrator convention attendees across all NCAA divisions. The key findings suggested that the athlete participant sample consisted of sports and ethnicities that represented the overall student-athlete body. The athlete participant sample also took surveys around the themes of social support, stress mindset and resiliency. The data suggested that current student-athlete participants did not always perceive themselves as resilient. Nor did they perceive themselves being able to handle stress well and that any “stress” was most always negative.
Both the NCAA and the Big Sky Conference have looked to address and create resources around student-athlete mental health. “This provides us the opportunity to re-brand stress and offer tools to student-athletes on how to regulate the overwhelming aspects of being a young adult navigating the collegiate experience,” Crouch explained.
The team looks to expose student-athletes to these “stressors” through former and current athlete stories via the Athletes Interrupted podcast. Serving as encouraging messaging, relaying that athletes before them have overcome similar challenges and become resilient.
Mikal-Flynn has specialized in research around resiliency and led the team in its research approaches. "It was both an honor and pleasure to be a part of the team that brought the NCAA Innovations Grant to CSUS and completed the podcasts: Athletes Interrupted and the follow up study. Participating in sports for most of my life, having three kids who became college student-athletes, and studying the concept of resilience and posttraumatic growth for over 15 years, it was gratifying to be able apply insights and evidence to support college athletes. I recognize that work still needs to be done to support our athletes in helping them identify and utilize their physical as well as emotional strengths and abilities, not only on the playing field, but in life after sport.”
Additionally, current student-athlete Lauren Wong served as the Research Assistant for the grant. She reflected on the experience, "I am grateful for the amazing opportunity to have been able to work on this project with Bethany and Dr. Mikal-Flynn. As an aspiring sport psychologist, it was wonderful to be able to connect with other professionals in the field at the NCAA Convention, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for Athletes Interrupted."
For future podcast development, the team looks to produce more podcasts on specific topics impacting student-athletes, creating group athlete podcasts, and utilizing YouTube to post these interviews.
NCAA Innovations in Research Grant Team - Sacramento State
Dr. Joyce Mikal-Flynn, Associate Nursing Professor, Ed. D., FNP, BSN, MSN - Project Director
Bethany Crouch, Student-Athlete Development & Academic Success - Project Coordinator
Dr. Michelle Dang, Ph.D., BSN, MSN - Research Professional & Statistician
Frederick Adams, Undergraduate Accounting Student - Student Assistant
Lauren Wong, Undergraduate Psychology Student, Track & Field Student-Athlete, SAAC Representative - Research Assistant
Current and Former Hornet Student-Athlete Interviews: Athletes Interrupted
Lea Wallace Carvalho, Former Track & Field Student-Athlete (2008-2011) & Former Nike and Olympic Level Athlete
Shares her story growing up in foster care, transferring colleges, adjusting to college academics, going through two Olympic cycles, and retirement.
Aaron Crouch, Former Baseball Student-Athlete (2008-2010) turned Doctor of Physical Therapy
Shares his story on the college athletics experience including being released, transferring twice, and ultimately pursuing his career in Physical Therapy.
Lauren Wong, Current Track & Field Student-Athlete (2017-2020) graduating early to pursue Sports Psychology Graduate Programs
Tells her story of college athletics and working through injuries, coaching changes, and adapting in the student-athlete experience.
Sam Hendrix-McCowan, Former Football Student-Athlete (2009-2013) pursuing his Master's in School Counseling
Shares his story transitioning into college level academics and athletics, working through adversities, and ending his career on injury.
Megan Kristcher, Former Women's Basketball Student-Athlete (2009-2013) now Basketball Coach at William Jessup
Shares her story transferring from another college, playing in college and abroad, and transitioning out of sport into a profession.
Traci Shaw, Former Softball Student-Athlete (2016-2019) now Studying Abroad
Shares her story from high school to college athletics, overcoming injury, mental health, using resources, and retiring from her sport.
