Social connectedness, self-esteem, and depression symptomatology among collegiate athletes versus nonathletes.
OBJECTIVE
The authors compared collegiate athletes and nonathletes to see whether there were significant differences in the perceived levels of social connectedness, self-esteem, and depression and if an interaction among the variables of athlete status, gender, GPA, BMI, and levels of weekly exercise and sleep were associated with depression symptomatology.


METHODS
Participants were 227 college students.


METHODS
The authors surveyed students using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Social Connectedness Scale-Revised.


RESULTS
Athletes had significantly greater levels of self-esteem and social connectedness, as well as significantly lower levels of depression, than did nonathletes. However, the statistically strongest predictors of depression in this cohort were the variables of gender, self-esteem, social connectedness, and sleep.


CONCLUSIONS
This study adds to the limited and inconsistent research in the empirical knowledge base regarding depression among collegiate athletes.
Armstrong
Shelley
S
Department of Health and Exercise Science, Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport, LA 71134, USA. sarmstro@centenary.edu
Oomen-Early
Jody
J
D015992:Body Mass Index; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012890:Sleep; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult