Degree Date

7-2026

Document Type

Dissertation - Public Access

Degree Name

Psy.D. Doctor of Clinical Psychology

Academic Discipline

Clinical Psychology

First Advisor

Bradley Olson, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Erica Mingo, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Leah Horvath, Ph.D.

Abstract

This qualitative study examined how college athletes, 18 years and older, experience and interpret internalizing behaviors and externalizing behaviors within contact and non-contact sports, and how those experiences are shaped by gender, racial/ethnic background, and socioeconomic status. The study addressed a gap in the literature by centering athletes’ own perspectives on how emotions, coping, identity, and performance intersect within collegiate sport contexts. A purposive sample of 12 athletes completed a demographic questionnaire and participated in semi-structured interviews conducted in person between December 2025 and February 2026. Interview transcripts were deidentified and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s six-step process. Six themes emerged: (a) demographic background shaped sport participation through gendered expectations, identity negotiation, and access to resources; (b) demographic factors shaped emotional management by defining what was acceptable, available, and sustainable; (c) internalizing behaviors were experienced as overthinking, withdrawal, and quiet self-doubt that often extended beyond sport; (d) athletes coped with internalizing behaviors through self-regulation, reflective release, and support seeking, although some strategies were avoidant or harmful; (e) externalizing behaviors were experienced as visible anger, open emotional discharge, and, for some athletes, substance-related or risk-oriented coping; and (f) externalizing behaviors could be channeled in ways that either enhanced or undermined performance and relationships. The findings suggest emotional experiences in sport are not individual but are shaped by cultural norms, identity, and access to support. Implications include the need for identity-aware sport psychology services, autonomy-supportive coaching practices, and stronger mental health supports within collegiate athletics.

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