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Exploring Wellbeing and Mental Health of Elite Athletes: A Bioecological Perspective / GEORGIA BROWN

Swansea University Author: GEORGIA BROWN

  • E-Thesis – open access under embargo until: 13th March 2026

DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUthesis.66101

Abstract

The aim of the thesis was to explore the processes that affect the wellbeing and mental health of elite athletes, to then inform, implement and evaluate a multi-level intervention designed to enhance their wellbeing and mental health. To expand the recent research in the area it is advantageous to e...

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Published: Swansea, Wales, UK 2024
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Doctoral
Degree name: Ph.D
Supervisor: Hill, Denise M. ; Knight, Camilla J.
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66101
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Thus, the thesis was underpinned by the bioecological model (i.e., PPCT; Bronfenbrenner 1995; Bronfenbrenner &amp; Morris, 2006), which proposes the interactions (i.e., processes) the individual experiences across the lifespan influence their physical, emotional, and psychological development. The processes and their impact on the development (i.e., positive or negative) are influenced by the characterisers of the person, their environmental context, and time. Providing an insight into the complex processes that affect wellbeing and mental health would allow the thesis to develop and deliver an evidence based and theoretically informed intervention. Therefore, the aims of the thesis was achieved by using the collective case study methodology. Study one used a collective case study to explore the processes that affected the wellbeing and mental health of judo and cycling athletes via observations, semi-structured interviews, self-report diaries, and a researcher reflexive journal. The processes included: (i) the development of trusting relationships; (ii) negative perceptions of self; (iii) attitudinal changes towards wellbeing and mental health; and (iv) the expansion of a resource pool, which impacted athletes’ wellbeing and mental health positively and negatively. The impact of the processes was influenced by person characteristics, the context (i.e., immediate and remote environments), and time. The aim of Study two was to design, implement, and evaluate a theoretical-informed, evidence based, multi-level intervention to enhance the athletes’ wellbeing and mental health. The intervention consisted of an educational podcast series, infographics, and environmental recommendations. The two cases received the intervention differently. That is, judo received a guided intervention (i.e., a series of reflective questions and researcher present within the environment), whilst cycling received an information only intervention (i.e., received all components but no reflective questions and researcher was not present). The findings highlighted the intervention was perceived to increase the athletes’ confidence of help-seeking, ability to manage poor wellbeing and mental health, while also being perceived to provide an opportunity to increase their knowledge of wellbeing and mental health concerns. The intervention was also perceived to be preventive measure of wellbeing and mental health concerns. Furthermore, the study found that were a number of perceived benefits of multi-components and in particular the podcasts and infographics. The benefits of the podcasts included flexibility of listening, easy and informal listening, and the control and ownership. The infographics were as equally well received as they provided concise information, accessibility of critical information, and supporting different ways of learning. Moreover, the researcher reflective journal provided an insight into the design, delivery, and evaluation of the intervention. The reflections included: (i) the feeling of excitement; (ii) the need for collaboration; (iii) the lack of personal stories (iv) the lack of progression; (v) the feeling of hope; and (vi) the relief of gaining feedback. 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spelling v2 66101 2024-04-20 Exploring Wellbeing and Mental Health of Elite Athletes: A Bioecological Perspective 15a7cf98dfef8d9e907e0c91e9cc0c90 GEORGIA BROWN GEORGIA BROWN true false 2024-04-20 The aim of the thesis was to explore the processes that affect the wellbeing and mental health of elite athletes, to then inform, implement and evaluate a multi-level intervention designed to enhance their wellbeing and mental health. To expand the recent research in the area it is advantageous to explore wellbeing and mental health from an ecological perspective (see Purcell et al., 2019; 2021). Thus, the thesis was underpinned by the bioecological model (i.e., PPCT; Bronfenbrenner 1995; Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006), which proposes the interactions (i.e., processes) the individual experiences across the lifespan influence their physical, emotional, and psychological development. The processes and their impact on the development (i.e., positive or negative) are influenced by the characterisers of the person, their environmental context, and time. Providing an insight into the complex processes that affect wellbeing and mental health would allow the thesis to develop and deliver an evidence based and theoretically informed intervention. Therefore, the aims of the thesis was achieved by using the collective case study methodology. Study one used a collective case study to explore the processes that affected the wellbeing and mental health of judo and cycling athletes via observations, semi-structured interviews, self-report diaries, and a researcher reflexive journal. The processes included: (i) the development of trusting relationships; (ii) negative perceptions of self; (iii) attitudinal changes towards wellbeing and mental health; and (iv) the expansion of a resource pool, which impacted athletes’ wellbeing and mental health positively and negatively. The impact of the processes was influenced by person characteristics, the context (i.e., immediate and remote environments), and time. The aim of Study two was to design, implement, and evaluate a theoretical-informed, evidence based, multi-level intervention to enhance the athletes’ wellbeing and mental health. The intervention consisted of an educational podcast series, infographics, and environmental recommendations. The two cases received the intervention differently. That is, judo received a guided intervention (i.e., a series of reflective questions and researcher present within the environment), whilst cycling received an information only intervention (i.e., received all components but no reflective questions and researcher was not present). The findings highlighted the intervention was perceived to increase the athletes’ confidence of help-seeking, ability to manage poor wellbeing and mental health, while also being perceived to provide an opportunity to increase their knowledge of wellbeing and mental health concerns. The intervention was also perceived to be preventive measure of wellbeing and mental health concerns. Furthermore, the study found that were a number of perceived benefits of multi-components and in particular the podcasts and infographics. The benefits of the podcasts included flexibility of listening, easy and informal listening, and the control and ownership. The infographics were as equally well received as they provided concise information, accessibility of critical information, and supporting different ways of learning. Moreover, the researcher reflective journal provided an insight into the design, delivery, and evaluation of the intervention. The reflections included: (i) the feeling of excitement; (ii) the need for collaboration; (iii) the lack of personal stories (iv) the lack of progression; (v) the feeling of hope; and (vi) the relief of gaining feedback. Interestingly, the data highlighted that there was a lack of engagement in the evaluation process from the cycling athletes, which may have been due to the lack of presence from the lead researcher in the cycling environment. E-Thesis Swansea, Wales, UK Elite Athletes, Wellbeing, Mental Health 13 3 2024 2024-03-13 10.23889/SUthesis.66101 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Hill, Denise M. ; Knight, Camilla J. Doctoral Ph.D Swansea University / Welsh Institute of Performance Sport 2024-04-20T13:18:03.5318557 2024-04-20T12:57:29.4960923 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences GEORGIA BROWN 1 Under embargo Under embargo 2024-04-20T13:07:30.7562238 Output 3023493 application/pdf E-Thesis – open access true 2026-03-13T00:00:00.0000000 Copyright: The Author, Georgia Brown, 2024. true eng
title Exploring Wellbeing and Mental Health of Elite Athletes: A Bioecological Perspective
spellingShingle Exploring Wellbeing and Mental Health of Elite Athletes: A Bioecological Perspective
GEORGIA BROWN
title_short Exploring Wellbeing and Mental Health of Elite Athletes: A Bioecological Perspective
title_full Exploring Wellbeing and Mental Health of Elite Athletes: A Bioecological Perspective
title_fullStr Exploring Wellbeing and Mental Health of Elite Athletes: A Bioecological Perspective
title_full_unstemmed Exploring Wellbeing and Mental Health of Elite Athletes: A Bioecological Perspective
title_sort Exploring Wellbeing and Mental Health of Elite Athletes: A Bioecological Perspective
author_id_str_mv 15a7cf98dfef8d9e907e0c91e9cc0c90
author_id_fullname_str_mv 15a7cf98dfef8d9e907e0c91e9cc0c90_***_GEORGIA BROWN
author GEORGIA BROWN
author2 GEORGIA BROWN
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institution Swansea University
doi_str_mv 10.23889/SUthesis.66101
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences
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description The aim of the thesis was to explore the processes that affect the wellbeing and mental health of elite athletes, to then inform, implement and evaluate a multi-level intervention designed to enhance their wellbeing and mental health. To expand the recent research in the area it is advantageous to explore wellbeing and mental health from an ecological perspective (see Purcell et al., 2019; 2021). Thus, the thesis was underpinned by the bioecological model (i.e., PPCT; Bronfenbrenner 1995; Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006), which proposes the interactions (i.e., processes) the individual experiences across the lifespan influence their physical, emotional, and psychological development. The processes and their impact on the development (i.e., positive or negative) are influenced by the characterisers of the person, their environmental context, and time. Providing an insight into the complex processes that affect wellbeing and mental health would allow the thesis to develop and deliver an evidence based and theoretically informed intervention. Therefore, the aims of the thesis was achieved by using the collective case study methodology. Study one used a collective case study to explore the processes that affected the wellbeing and mental health of judo and cycling athletes via observations, semi-structured interviews, self-report diaries, and a researcher reflexive journal. The processes included: (i) the development of trusting relationships; (ii) negative perceptions of self; (iii) attitudinal changes towards wellbeing and mental health; and (iv) the expansion of a resource pool, which impacted athletes’ wellbeing and mental health positively and negatively. The impact of the processes was influenced by person characteristics, the context (i.e., immediate and remote environments), and time. The aim of Study two was to design, implement, and evaluate a theoretical-informed, evidence based, multi-level intervention to enhance the athletes’ wellbeing and mental health. The intervention consisted of an educational podcast series, infographics, and environmental recommendations. The two cases received the intervention differently. That is, judo received a guided intervention (i.e., a series of reflective questions and researcher present within the environment), whilst cycling received an information only intervention (i.e., received all components but no reflective questions and researcher was not present). The findings highlighted the intervention was perceived to increase the athletes’ confidence of help-seeking, ability to manage poor wellbeing and mental health, while also being perceived to provide an opportunity to increase their knowledge of wellbeing and mental health concerns. The intervention was also perceived to be preventive measure of wellbeing and mental health concerns. Furthermore, the study found that were a number of perceived benefits of multi-components and in particular the podcasts and infographics. The benefits of the podcasts included flexibility of listening, easy and informal listening, and the control and ownership. The infographics were as equally well received as they provided concise information, accessibility of critical information, and supporting different ways of learning. Moreover, the researcher reflective journal provided an insight into the design, delivery, and evaluation of the intervention. The reflections included: (i) the feeling of excitement; (ii) the need for collaboration; (iii) the lack of personal stories (iv) the lack of progression; (v) the feeling of hope; and (vi) the relief of gaining feedback. Interestingly, the data highlighted that there was a lack of engagement in the evaluation process from the cycling athletes, which may have been due to the lack of presence from the lead researcher in the cycling environment.
published_date 2024-03-13T13:18:00Z
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score 11.012924

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