The Impact of Hypermasculinity on Mental Health Attitudes Among High-Collision Athletes

Purpose: The purpose of this research was three-fold: (1) to examine the impact of hypermasculinity, sport injury, degree of injury, sport level, age range, race, marital status, and years active on mental health attitudes (perceptions of mental illness and averseness to help); (2) to predict what factors most likely contribute to mental health attitudes; and (3) to describe hypermasculinity outside of the context of other groups.;Methods: One hundred and twenty-two male high-collision athletes from the NFL Players Association and the Washington, DC Metro area were recruited to participate in this study. The mixed-methods strategy employed in this study was sequential explanatory strategy. Three standardized and self-administered instruments were used to collect the quantitative data. These are (1) Attitude Scale for Mental Illness (ASMI) (Ng & Chan, 2000), (2) Inventory of Attitudes toward Seeking Mental Health Services (IASMHS) (Mackenzie, Knox, Gekoski, & Macaulay, 2004), and (3) Athlete's Perception of Masculinity (APMS). In addition, Skype and telephone interviews were utilized to collect the qualitative data.;Data Analysis: Statistical tests utilized to analyze quantitative data included Pearson's correlation coefficient, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), and canonical correlation analysis. To analyze qualitative research questions, relational analysis and cognitive mapping were used.;Results: This study found that though athletes have high levels of hypermasculinity (mean=19.66, SD=7.43), they still hold positive perceptions of mental illness (mean=126, SD=16.53) and are receptive to mental health assistance (mean=55.98, SD=16.41). This conclusion indicates that hypermasculinity is a trait of the athlete and not his defining characteristic. Other sport-related or personal characteristics, including marital status, sport level, age range, and degree of injury were predictors of perceptions of mental health and receptivity to help. Additionally, education, awareness of self and others, and self-reliance emerged as protective factors against averseness to help.;Implications: This study has many implications on understanding the perceptions that are held by athletes regarding mental health, the barriers that limit or prevent athletes who are in need of mental health services from getting help, and the role the profession of social work can play in providing those services. These implications are discussed in detail in chapter 5.