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Jennifer L. Mayette, Psy.D., is a 2024 graduate of the Psy.D. Program in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University, New England

Dr. Jennifer L. Mayette

Dissertation Committee:

  • Kathi Borden, PhD, Chairperson
  • Karen Meteyer, PhD, Committee Member
  • Rachel Chickerella, PhD, Committee Member

Keywords

masculinity, stigma, student-athlete, college students, mental health, help-seeking, sports, NCAA, attitudes, values, quantitative, ATSPPH-SF, CMNI, correlations, multiple linear regressions

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

The mental health and well-being of college student-athletes has recently come to the attention of the general public with the increase in current and past athletes speaking out about the stressors they faced during their collegiate careers. With this increase in attention, higher education institutions and larger athletic associations have turned towards research to identify factors that are contributing to the struggles of student-athletes. One factor that has consistently been identified as a barrier for athletes seeking help for mental health concerns is stigma. For male student-athletes in particular, perception of the stigma associated with receiving psychological help due to conformity to masculine norms has consistently been found to be a deterrent for help-seeking behaviors. While many studies have drawn this conclusion, they have failed to separate the student-athlete from their athletic environment and explore how an athlete’s values and attitudes may differ and interact with that of their sport. This exploratory study aimed to examine if there was a difference between the strength of the relationship between a male athlete’s personal value versus perceived value of masculinity of their sport with their attitudes towards mental health help-seeking. Additionally, the ability for personal value of masculinity and perception of sport’s value of masculinity to predict male student-athletes’ attitudes toward mental health help-seeking were explored. Through the use of an online survey, participants completed demographic questions, as well as questions from the Attitudes Towards Seeking Professional Psychological Help-Short Form (ATSPPH-SF), Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI), and an adapted version of the CMNI that was specifically tailored to ask questions regarding athletes’ experience in their sport. Results indicated a negative relationship between male student-athletes’ personal value of masculinity and attitudes towards mental health help-seeking. Results also showed male athletes’ personal value of masculinity as the only predictor of their attitudes towards help-seeking. While further research is needed to determine true effects of male athletes’ personal value versus perceived sport’s value of masculinity on their attitudes towards mental health help-seeking, this study provides foundational knowledge for how colleges and universities can implement interventions to help better their student-athletes mental health and well-being. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

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ORCID: 0009-0007-4916-8444

Bio:

Jennifer Mayette has dedicated her clinical training to working with children and adolescents. She has extensive experience in working with children and adolescents ranging from 3 years old to 18 years old presenting with a wide range of clinical presentations in therapy, assessment, and consultation. Jennifer has worked in academic medical centers, psychiatric hospitals, and community mental health centers. She received her Masters degree and PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University New England and completed her APA-accredited internship at Applewood Centers, Inc. in Cleveland, OH. Jennifer earned her Bachelors degree in Neuroscience from Stonehill College, where she found her research interest in student-athlete mental health while playing Division II softball. This interest is reflected in her dissertation, which focuses on the influence of masculinity on male student-athlete mental health.

Presentations:

Mayette, J., McCleery, S., & Meteyer, K. (2020). Education level as a predictor of college student’s experience of goal disruption and behavioral interference in the COVID-19 pandemic. Poster presented at the New England Psychological Association 2020 Virtual Conference.

McCleery, S., Mayette, J., & Meteyer, K. (2020). Association between COVID-19 and the symptoms of anxiety and depression in college students. Poster presented at the New England Psychological Association 2020 Virtual Conference.

Marschall, K., Altman, R., Wilding, J., Mayette, J., McCleery, S., & Meteyer, K. (2021). College Students’ Experienced Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Post presented at the New England Psychological Association 2021 Virtual Conference.

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