Exploring Potential Role of Social Work Support for College Student Athletes

This research was a descriptive exploratory quantitative study that examined the potential role of social work support for college student athletes in the San Fernando Valley.This research gathered survey data on student athlete's basic demographics, their current and past exposures to risk and protective factors and their attitudes towards help seeking behavior.The sample consisted of 35 student athletes.Results indicated that there was a strong negative relationship between peer risk factors and help seeking behavior.Further student individual risk factors were related to school and peer risk factors.Students with higher individual protective factors, also had higher family, school, peer and community protective factors and a stronger tendency to seek help when needed.Social work professionals could be a great asset to the Athletic Department supporting student athletes holistically by helping them reach their full academic, athletic and mental potential.University, Northridge College Portrait").54% of the student population consist of women and 46% are men ("California State University, Northridge College Portrait").CSUN is a ethnically diverse campus, 42% Hispanic, 6% African American, 24% other minorities, 24% Caucasian and 5% did not specify ("California State University, Northridge College Portrait").The average age of all students is 23 and 52% of all students are considered low income ("California State University, Northridge College Portrait").CSUN fields 7 men and 10 women NCAA Division 1 sports teams that consist of basketball, baseball, softball, track and field, volleyball, soccer, cross country, golf, tennis, beach volleyball and water polo ("Cal State Northridge Official Athletic Site").In order for a CSUN student to be eligible to participate on any of their Division 1 sports teams, they have to meet a 2.3 GPA, completed the right 16 high school core classes within 4 consecutive academic years and earn a combined SAT or ACT sum score that matches the core course GPA on the sliding scale and be enrolled full time ("2014-15 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete").Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC) is located in the Los Angeles Suburb of Valley Glen, San Fernando Valley.There are currently 18,230 students enrolled at LAVC. 56% of the student population are females, 44% are males and 18% are considered full time ("Office of Institutional Effectiveness: Los Angeles Valley College").The campus population are predominantly minorities, 39% Latinos, 31% Caucasian, 23% other minorities, 7% unknown ("Office of Institutional Effectiveness: Los Angeles Valley College").65% of all students are under the age of 24.LAVC fields 5 men and 5 women sports teams that consist of football, baseball, basketball, softball, swimming and diving and water polo.