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Date of Award

Spring 2025

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Department or Program Affiliation

Sport and Exercise Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Health and Human Development

First Advisor

Arthur-Cameselle, Jessyca

Second Advisor

Keeler, Linda

Third Advisor

Robey, Nathan

Fourth Advisor

MacDonald, Samantha L.

Abstract

With the right support and mindset, sport injury can lead to positive psychological outcomes, called stress-related growth (SRG; Park et al., 1996). Psychological need satisfaction (e.g., need for relatedness) may facilitate SRG (e.g., Heaney & Kentzer, 2023). The purpose of the current study was to test the effects of an in-person, social-support-focused group intervention on SRG in injured collegiate athletes. In this mixed-methods study, five participants (Mage = 20.2, 60% female) took the Stress-Related Growth Scale (SRGS; Park et al., 1996) and the Perceived Available Support in Sport Questionnaire (Freeman et al., 2011) before, after two sessions, and upon completion of the intervention. Within-group ANOVAs indicated no statistically significant differences in SRGS scores and significance only for tangible social support. However, SRGS scores from time two to time three had a large effect size (p = 0.06, d = 1.20). Themes in participants’ responses to open-ended questions about their experiences included I Am Not Alone and Changes in Thinking and Perspective. Although there were no statistical changes in SRG scores, qualitative results indicated that the experience was positive for participants. Thus, small groups for injured athletes could be beneficial and warrant further investigation.

Type

Text

Keywords

Athletes, injury, stress-related growth, sport, social support, small groups

Publisher

Western Washington University

OCLC Number

1523965266

Subject – LCSH

College athletes--Wounds and injuries--Northwestern States--Psychological aspects; Sports injuries--Northwestern States--Psychological aspects; College athletes--Social networks--Northwestern States; College athletes--Northwestern States--Psychology; Stress (Psychology); Social networks

Geographic Coverage

Northwestern States

Format

application/pdf

Genre/Form

masters theses

Language

English

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

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