Block and tackle or interfere: Student-athletes’ identities and well-being

Abstract

ABSTRACT Student-athletes’ athletic and academic identities have been recognized as important determinants to their academic and athletic performance. Yet, there is scarce information on how these two identities may be related to student-athletes’ overall or sport-wellbeing. Therefore, this study examined how student-athletes’ academic and athletic identities are associated with their overall and sport well-being in a US national sample of 241 NCAA Division I student-athletes. We examined whether the relationship between these two identities and well-being would be moderated by student-athletes’ demographics. We also explored whether interruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic affected student-athletes’ overall and sport well-being. Results showed a significant positive relationship between academic identity and overall well-being, and a negative relationship between athletic identity and sport well-being. Additionally, year in school, race, and gender were significant correlates of sport and overall well-being. Finally, results indicated that COVID-19 pandemic was negatively associated with participants’ overall and sport well-being.