The interplay between mental health, mental illness, sport culture, and athletic performance in Olympic and Paralympic sport

Mental health is increasingly being recognized as a key component of elite athletes’ overall functioning and sport performance. Globally, research on antecedents (e.g., sport culture) and consequences (e.g., athletic performance) of mental health and illness in elite athlete populations is growing. However, little is known about the relationship between mental health, mental illness, sport culture, and athletic performance in the Canadian high-performance sport context. The purpose of this research project is to better understand the interplay between these variables in Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes using a longitudinal mixed-methods design. The results and deliverables associated with this project will help the partner organization, Own The Podium, develop evidence-based and culturally appropriate resources, policies, and programming to support Olympic and Paralympic athletes in their training and competition environments.

Faculty Supervisor:

Natalie Durand-Bush;Michelle Dionne

Student:

Krista Van Slingerland;Rachel Jewett;Connor Primeau

Partner:

Own the Podium

Discipline:

Kinesiology

Sector:

Arts, entertainment and recreation

University:

Program: