| The use of sport psychology consultants at the collegiate level is steadily increasing. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of mindset and personality to develop a better understanding of their impact on student-athletes attitudes toward sport psychology consultants in the United States. The Sport Psychology Attitudes -- Revised form (SPA-R Martin, Kellmann, Lavallee, & Page, 2002) was administered to 220 NCAA student-athletes, both male and female, from a variety of individual and team sports. Results from the statistical analyses indicated that gender, ethnicity, growth mindset, and certain personality characteristics were significant predictors of athletes' attitudes toward sport psychology consultants. Specifically, in relation to personal factors, male athletes reported less openness to sport psychology consultants than female athletes. Athletes who identified as non-white showed a higher level of cultural preference toward sports psychology consultants than athletes' who identify as white. Additionally, athletes with a growth mindset athletic ability had more confidence in sport psychology consultants and showed less cultural preference and athletes' with a growth mindset athletic behaviors demonstrated less stigma toward sport psychology consultants. Three of the five dimension of the Big 5 personality were also significant predictors of certain dimensions of athletes' attitudes toward sports psychology consultants. These findings expand previous research investigating athletes' attitudes toward sport psychology consultants and provide important insights for the consultation process. Conclusions pertain to the implications for the field of applied sport psychology, specifically the influence of factors to help tailor training services that increase athletes' willingness to engage with sport psychology consultants. |
