Feasibility of Predicting In-Season Mental Health Problems in College Student-Athletes From Pre-season Assessment

Objective To examine whether pre-season assessment using a validated assessment tool, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF), could predict college student-athletes identified as experiencing in-season mental health (MH) problems. Design A prospective study of athletes who completed a pre-season evaluation in August 2018. Setting and participants A total of 195 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 student-athletes from a large midwestern university in northeast Ohio. Independent variable The MMPI-2-RF, a 338-item self-report measure of constructs relevant to the assessment of psychopathology and personality. Main outcome measure Mental health problems of student-athletes tracked throughout the competitive season (August 2018-May 2019) by a team of athletic department personnel who met weekly with a licensed clinical psychologist. Results In pre-season assessment, 71.8% of athletes clinically elevated at least one MMPI-2-RF scale and underreporting was higher in student-athletes than normative controls. Pre-season levels of internalizing psychopathology, diffuse physical symptoms, and unusual thoughts predicted increased likelihood of experiencing MH problems during the competitive season. Conclusions The current findings suggest that the MMPI-2-RF may be a promising tool for identifying student-athletes at risk for MH concerns.