Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 243-254).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Oregon, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 14-15).

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2007. / Title from PDF title page screen. Advisor: David H. Perrin; submitted to the School of Health and Human Performance. Includes bibliographical references (p. 191-201).

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of North Texas, May, 2007. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

<p>The field of athletic training is growing rapidly and needs to be recognized in our institutions of higher education. Currently, there are 80 colleges and universities throughout the United States with undergraduate athletic training curriculums accredited by the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) and several more who have internship programs in athletic training (N.A.T.A. Staff, personal communication, January 18, 1993).</p> / Master of Science

No description available.

Certified athletic trainers (ATCs) play a unique role in sport environments as the primary medical staff available to athletes. Thus, ATCs are well positioned to oversee athletes’ physical and psychological well-being. Although sport psychologists (SPs) have been identified as a potential resource for ATCs, previous studies have reported a lack of collaboration between SPs and ATCs. This study aimed to (a) examine ATCs’ views regarding professional roles for both ATCs and SPs, (b) explore ATCs’ referral behaviors, (c) evaluate ATCs belief in the credibility of sport psychology across demographic (i.e., gender, age) and experiential variables (i.e., access to SPs), and (d) examine ATCs’ involvement in sport psychology. Four hundred ninety-six ATCs (265 men, 231 women) completed and returned the questionnaire. ATCs viewed assisting in the psychological recovery of athletes as the most acceptable professional role for fellow ATCs; aiding in the psychological recovery of injured athletes and teach mental skills were identified by ATCs as the most appropriate roles for SPs. In considering an athlete experiencing interpersonal difficulties (e.g., relationship problems), a mixed design ANOVA revealed a ATC sex by referral option interaction; female and male ATCs indicated they would likely refer the athlete to a counselor/therapist, followed by a SP, however, female ATCs reported a greater likelihood of referring to a counselor/therapist than male ATCs whereas male ATCs indicated a greater likelihood of referring to a SP. Further, ATCs’ regular access to SPs and completion of formal sport psychology coursework were identified as variables associated with greater belief in the credibility of sport psychology. These results suggest that access and previous experience with SPs remain significant variables associated with ATCs views about, and belief in, the work of SPs. Implications for sport psychology professionals and recommendations for future research are discussed.

This study investigated person-situation relations of professional preparation and job classification of secondary school athletic training positions with core job dimensions and affective outcomes within Hackman and Oldham's 1980 Job Characteristics Model. Research focused on which relations show increased affective outcomes; relationships between core job dimensions and affective outcomes; and characteristics of the core job dimensions of task identification, task significance, and skill variety of athletic trainer tasks as defined by the National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification, Inc. 1995 Role Delineation Study.

Athletic trainers (ATs) are professionals who are most directly responsible for athletes’ health care in a sport environment. ATs work with athletes on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of athletic injury; it is through these interactions that put ATs in an ideal position to recognize the psychological and emotional distress that athletes may suffer. Consequently, the National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA) has called for ATs to be competent in implementing psychosocial strategies and techniques (e.g., goal-setting, imagery, positive self-talk), recognizing basic symptoms of mental disorders, and identifying and referring athletes in need of psychological help. I explored ATs’ ability to recognize, diagnose, and provide a referral for collegiate athletes who were presenting with symptoms of depression across three different scenarios. The study examined factors that may impact ATs’ abilities in these areas, including AT gender, athlete gender, and type of presenting problem (e.g., athletic injury, romantic relationship, or sport performance issue). Overall, female ATs were better at recognizing depressive symptoms than male ATs, though both were equally proficient at diagnosing depression. Regardless of gender of the AT, gender of the athlete, and presenting problem, ATs were most likely to refer the athletes to a counselor/psychologist, and to a lesser extent sport psychology consultant (SPC). ATs viewed referrals to an SPC as most appropriate for presenting problems related to sport (i.e., performance problem or injury). The results highlight a possible bias in referrals to an SPC, in that SPCs may not be considered an appropriate referral source for romantic relationship problems. Implications for ATs and recommendations for future research are discussed.

The purposes of this study were to determine the current formal educational background of certified athletic trainers (ATCs) in sport psychology and psychological aspects of injury, and to identify attitudes of ATCs regarding the implementation of formal sport psychology education. A survey instrument was developed for the purposes of this study and sent to all 13,000 NATABOC ATCs with e-mail addresses registered with the NATA as of December 2001, with 2499 responding (19.2%). Of the respondents, 1326 (53.7%) were educated via the internship route to certification and 1142 (46.3%) were educated via the curriculum route to certification. Descriptive statistics were computed for information regarding the amount and type of formal sport psychology education participation by ATCs, perceived importance of sport psychology when caring for athletes, and availability of sport psychology professionals.Results indicated that 46.2% (n = 1098) and 30.0% (n = 667) of ATCs who responded have participated in at least one formal sport psychology undergraduate and graduate course, respectively. Results indicated that 62.6% (n = 1473) and 29.1% (n = 644) had participated in at least one psychological aspects of injury undergraduate and graduate course, respectively. Three hundred and thirty-nine (14.5%) have participated in sport psychology CEUs and 85 (3.7%) have attended sport psychology conventions/seminars. Responses supported previous research, showing the opinion that sport psychology is an important tool when caring for athletes. Results indicated that low numbers of ATCs currently have formal training in formal sport psychology interventions (32.7%, n = 818), but more utilize them in their athletic training settings then are formally trained (56.7%, n = 1426). Respondents indicated limited access to sport psychology professionals as 31.4% (n = 776) reported access to full, part time, or a referral base service.Multiple t-tests were used to determine if significant differences were present between internship route ATCs' and curriculum route ATCs' participation in and perceptions of formal sport psychology and psychological aspects of injury education. No significant differences were found between routes to certifications. Low percentages of ATCs with formal sport psychology education, high perceived importance of sport psychology skills, and limited access to sport psychology professionals requires further attention and action in order to provide athletes with the best comprehensive care. / School of Physical Education