Controlled Evaluation of an Optimization Approach to Mental Health and Sport Performance

Authors

Brad Donohue, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Yulia Gavrilova, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Marina Galante, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Elena Gavrilova, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Travis Loughran, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Jesse Scott, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Graig Chow, Florida State University
Christopher P. Plant, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Daniel N. Allen, daniel.allen@unlv.edu

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2018

Publication Title

Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology

Volume

12

Issue

2

First page number:

234

Last page number:

267

Abstract

Athletes experience unique stressors that have been indicated to compromise their mental wellness and sport performance, yet they underutilize mental health services. Indeed, very few mental health interventions for athletes have been developed to fit sport culture, and well-controlled mental health outcome research in athlete populations is warranted. In this randomized controlled trial, a sport specific optimization approach to concurrent mental health and sport performance (The Optimum Performance Program in Sports; TOPPS) was examined. Seventy-four collegiate athletes (NCAA = 42; club = 11; intramural = 21) formally assessed for mental health diagnostic severity were randomly assigned to TOPPS or campus counseling/psychological services as usual (SAU) after baseline. Dependent measures assessed general mental health, mood, mental health factors affecting sport performance in training, competition and life outside of sports, days using substances, sexual risk behaviors, happiness in relationships, relationships affecting sport performance, and contributions of relationship to sport performance. Intent to treat repeated measures analyses indicated that participants in TOPPS consistently demonstrated better outcomes than SAU up to 8-months post-randomization and for mental health/substance use measures, particularly when diagnostic criteria were most severe. Recommendations are provided in light of the results to assist sport-specific mental health intervention development and implementation within athlete populations.

Keywords

Family behavior therapy; Mental health; RCT; Sport culture; Sport performance; Wellness

Disciplines

Clinical Psychology | Sports Sciences

Language

English

Repository Citation

Donohue, B., Gavrilova, Y., Galante, M., Gavrilova, E., Loughran, T., Scott, J., Chow, G., Plant, C. P., Allen, D. N. (2018). Controlled Evaluation of an Optimization Approach to Mental Health and Sport Performance. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 12(2), 234-267.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2017-0054