Coach-Athlete Relationships and Mental Health: An Exploratory Study on Former Female NCAA Student-Athletes.

ABSTRACT: Female participation in NCAA athletics has grown significantly since the passage of Title IX-the 1972 U.S. federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational programs and activities receiving federal funding-yet much of the existing research continues to focus on male athletes, leaving important gaps in our understanding of women's experiences in collegiate sports. One underexamined area with important public health implications is the role of coach-athlete relationships in shaping female athletes' mental health, access to resources, and overall collegiate experience. This exploratory study draws on in-depth interviews with 19 former female NCAA athletes to examine how their relationships with coaches influenced their athletic careers, mental health, and perceptions of supp

SUBMITTER: Kernan AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12652550 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature