Canvas by Jaylinn Sloven

Key Term: Anxiety

sd1589_ — 2023-11-06 15:30:35 UTC

A mental condition of excessive apprehensiveness, unease, worry, and tension. This relates to the article because there is societal and familial pressure to excel simultaneously in both college sports and academics. This causes athletes to have increasing and prolonged fear of failure and worry for the success of the team, apprehension about standing out, and maintaining their own GPAs to keep their spots.

Key Term: Stress

sd1589_ — 2023-11-06 15:31:43 UTC

A state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Many teen/young adult athletes have an extreme fear of failure which causes them to overwork themselves and set high expectations as their physical goals.

Key term: Depression

jms1214_ — 2023-11-06 15:31:51 UTC

A mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. This relates to the article because many young adult/teen athletes develop this disorder from added stress and societal expectations to do well.

Stigma

ak2325_ — 2023-11-06 15:33:40 UTC

A set of negative and often unfair beliefs a society or group of people has about something. It is often associated with mental health.

Key Term: Pressure

vp537_ — 2023-11-06 15:34:48 UTC

The Feeling of stressful urgency caused by the necessity of doing or achieving something

Student athletes feel both physical and mental pressures from their need to perform well in their respective sports. They experience both internal and external pressure. They force themselves to push past any adversity which negatively impact their mental and physical health.

Key Term: Stigma

ak2325_ — 2023-11-06 15:36:20 UTC

A set of negative and often unfair beliefs a society or group of people has about something. It is often associated with mental illness.

Background: transitioning from high school to college

jms1214_ — 2023-11-06 15:47:20 UTC

Transitioning from high school to college is a tough transition due to the fact that there is a change from teenager responsibilities to adulthood. This drastic change in scenery and lifestyle causes many to become heavily stressed out due to the increased pressure. Thus, sports on top of this change causes many student athletes to feel overwhelmed between academics, sports, and adult responsibilities.

Background: Internal Pressures

vp537_ — 2023-11-06 15:50:47 UTC

Athletes, especially high level ones, have very high expectations of themselves and want to succeed no matter what. They force themselves to go through any struggles and disregard their own mental and physical problems. Many who want to seek help often worry about looking weak and feeling embarrassed. There is a stigma associated with mental health and many who can and want to receive support sometimes choose not to. They feel athletes aren't supposed to show weakness. This leads many to fear admitting that they are suffering internally.

Background Info: Athlete Resources on Campus

sd1589_ — 2023-11-06 15:52:28 UTC

Sports give athletes structure and support from both teammates and coaches. Majority of athletes get better sleep, nutrition, and exercise compared to non-athletes. They get a wide social network that looks out for them if they are not feeling well or are isolated. There are tutoring services provided for them to succeed academically. There are also mental health centers where anyone experiencing anxiety, depression, etc. can seek help from professionals.

Background Info: External Pressures

ak2325_ — 2023-11-06 15:54:03 UTC

With the increased use of social media, student-athletes are more subject to criticism and bullying which can take a hit at one's mental health. Many of these students will often hyper-focus on their performance and stress about how well they will do in the next game as they feel pressure from their coaches, teammates, parents, and fellow students. The resources offered, such as a sports psychologist, do not make the situation any better as they also focus on the student's performance instead of their mental health. The lack of help can lead to these students feeling helpless and lonely. They feel like they can not share their problems with others out of fear of appearing ungrateful, this causes them to isolate and worsen their mental health.

Background Info: Other Barriers

sd1589_ — 2023-11-06 15:59:11 UTC

Because many student athletes have been athletes their whole lives, sports and success in those sports becomes a core part of their identities. When they are injured, sick, underperform, or are losing interest in the sport, it feels as though they are disappointing their potential and losing part of that identity that they have crafted. In addition, many athletes are encouraged to keep "bouncing back", and are praised if they do despite extraneous circumstances such as the flu or injuries. There is a contradiction where coaches encourage athletes to speak up about issues going on but praising those who do the opposite and continue going forward as if nothing happened.

Key Argument: Do external pressures affect student athlete's mental health negatively?

ak2325_ — 2023-11-06 16:01:22 UTC

How does Social Media play a part in student-athletes feeling pressure?
Do coaches, teammates, and parents affect student-athletes' mental health negatively or positively?
Do scholarships and academics pressure student-athletes to do better or lead to more stress?

key arguments: transition from high school to college

jms1214_ — 2023-11-06 16:01:37 UTC

Why do athletes have more pressure than the rest of the student body?
What types of added pressures do athletes have?
What types of changes do teenagers go through when going to college?

Counter Argument: Pressure on Student Athletes Can Affect Them Positively

ak2325_ — 2023-11-06 16:02:28 UTC

Can parents, coaches, and teammates encourage a student-athlete to perform better?
Will social media show student-athletes their highlights and videos of what they need to work on to perform better?
Can having to balance academics, social life, and their sport cause student-athletes to be a healthier person?

Key Argument: Internal Pressures

vp537_ — 2023-11-06 16:07:57 UTC

How do internal pressures affect the ability of athletes' performance?
Are internal pressures the biggest issues that student athletes' face?
How are athletes' own self pressure negatively affecting their mental health?

Key argument: Is peer and advisors' support enough to lower athletes' feelings of anxiety and stress?

sd1589_ — 2023-11-06 16:08:51 UTC

Are mental health centers welcoming and helpful enough for athletes to continue going despite stigma?
Do students push other students to do well in school and sports in a positive or negative manner? Is it fueled by competition or simply advice?
Do coaches encourage students to attend tutoring services or simply expect high grades?

counter argument: transitioning from highschool to college

jms1214_ — 2023-11-06 16:11:33 UTC

In what ways is transitioning from highschool to college more freeing?
How are sports in college beneficial to helping those stay active and get a break from academics?

Counter Argument: Internal Pressure

vp537_ — 2023-11-06 16:12:56 UTC

When student athletes have high expectations for their own performance they push themselves to play better and do better. This is overall positive for the athletes as they are playing better and set themselves to a certain standard.
With strong internal pressures in athletes they are more likely to have longer and better commitment to their respective sports. They see their sports as rewarding experiences because if they perform than they will have better view of themselves and feel happy with their growth as an athlete.

counter argument: other barriers

jms1214_ — 2023-11-06 16:15:25 UTC

How does persevering through challenges prepare athletes for adulthood?
How does being an athlete build a persons character and self motivation to do well?

key arguments: other barriers

jms1214_ — 2023-11-06 16:21:23 UTC

How does pressure to do well from friends and family impact the athlete?
How does a player injury impact not only the physical health of the athlete but also their mental health?
How does becoming engulfed in athletic performance impact the athlete outside of sports?

Counterargument: Athlete Resources on Campus

sd1589_ — 2023-11-06 16:24:41 UTC

Would support groups amongst other student athletes be more beneficial to erasing that stigma?
Do sports provide helpful structure to student athletes' lives?