Effects of Cohesion With Teammates on Division-I Student-Athletes’ Mental Health: An Application of the Human Need to Belong and Transactional Stress Frameworks

Collegiate student-athletes are experiencing an ongoing mental health epidemic, especially concerning anxiety and depression. This study builds upon the meta-theory of the human need to belong and the transactional theory of stress and coping by framing stress as a mediator for the benefits of cohesion between teammates on mental health. Data from 121 Division-I student-athletes demonstrated a fully mediated model whereby task cohesion indirectly benefited anxiety and depression through lower stress levels. Social cohesion, however, was not significantly associated with either stress or anxiety and depression. These findings underscore teammate relationships are appraised as social stimuli and that the lack of shared task approaches and understandings among teammates can be distressing and detract from general well-being. Coaches, athletic departments, and other academic stakeholders may use this information to guide their efforts to lower student-athlete stress through their social relationships with others. This aim can become an emphasis on pre-season training, team meetings, and athlete check-ins.