Study: Division I college athletes outpace student peers in mental health

....“Here you have a large group of people all on the same academic calendar, in the same degree programs, in the same wonderful climate, and we gave them the same measure at the same time of year,” says Snedden. “However, when we compared the non-Division-I undergrads to the Division I student-athletes, the athletes’ results reflected more positive overall mental health.”.....

.....“Just think about the difference in resources,” she says. “The DI athletes have resources to support their academic success readily available — tutors and advisors, study hours. They have healthy food available. They have athletic trainers and team physicians if they get an injury, a sore throat or a fever.”

More typical undergrads may not have health insurance coverage in Wisconsin or the campus area.

“They might not have experience with or are unaware of (UW–Madison’s) University Health Services, don’t know how to navigate health care needs, or don’t feel they have time to take care of an illness,” Snedden says.....