College Athlete Resilience: Achieving Mental Wellbeing During a Pandemic

The long-term negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health outcomes among college athletes has been well-established. However, mental wellbeing in this population remains understudied. Guided by the conceptual framework of sport resilience, this study examined the impact of COVID-19 on mental wellbeing among NCAA Division I college athletes and, more specifically, the moderation effect of resilience on the relationship between COVID-19 and mental wellbeing. Among college athletics, resilience is believed to not only mitigate mental health concerns but may also promote mental wellbeing. Findings revealed a significant and negative correlation between COVID-19 and mental wellbeing, as well as a positive relationship between resilience and mental wellbeing. Further, resilience was found to significantly moderate the relationship between the impact of COVID-19 and mental wellbeing. Regardless of the impact level of COVID-19, college athletes with high levels of resilience consistently reported greater mental wellbeing than those with medium or low levels of resilience. Although prior research has clearly demonstrated the negative impact of the pandemic on mental health, findings from the current study illustrate the positive influence of resilience. Given the likelihood of future public health pandemics (e.g., avian influenza, measles) and ongoing changes to federal food safety policies—we believe that this study highlights the importance of resilience in navigating challenging circumstances.