Exploring mental ill-health stigma in sport : a social identity approach

Abstract

The phrase "we must challenge the stigma" echoes loudly in the world of sports when it comes to mental health. Yet research on stigma in sport is limited and often lacks a theoretical basis, with current interventions providing inconclusive evidence of mental health stigma reduction. To address this gap, the present thesis is grounded in the Social Identity Approach, aiming to bridge the conceptual foundations of stigma, rooted in identity-based differences that create a distinction between an esteemed "us" and a devalued "them", with the current theoretical gaps observed in sport literature. Three studies are presented to examine mental ill-health stigma at the individual (micro), social (meso), and societal (macro) levels of sport. A comprehensive overview of existing literature and core thesis arguments are presented in the foundational chapters (1 and 2). Two studies are presented in Chapter 3: Upon reviewing 14,242 articles against inclusion and exclusion criteria, Study 1 (n = 278 articles) details a mixed-method content analysis examining stigmatising and anti-stigmatising narratives related to mental ill-health classifications in elite sport, as depicted in popular UK print media. Study 2 (n = 151 articles, 45,407 words) details a reflexive thematic analysis focused on the lived experiences of elite athletes who have faced mental ill-health, as depicted in popular UK print media. The final study, presented in Chapter 4, details empirical evidence (n = 388) on the influence of an athlete's identity on their perceptions of mental ill-health stigma and their willingness to seek help for mental ill-health concerns. To conclude, a discussion on the significance of these studies in furthering our understanding of mental ill-health stigma within sport is presented in Chapter 5. Three key theoretical implications are discussed: 1) stigma is maintained by reinforcing an ‘us’ versus ‘them’ narrative; 2) what is important to my group is what is important to me; and 3) role models are important, if they are relatable. Given the novelty of this research area in sport, several future research directions are discussed.