Document Type
Dissertation
Publication Date
4-23-2025
Abstract
Date: 04/23/2025
Student Name: Myiah Sturdivant
Capstone Project Title: Getting in the Game: Innovating an Occupational Therapy Training Curriculum for Managing Performance Anxiety in Collegiate Athletes
Capstone Faculty Advisor: Phyllis Ross, OTD OTR/L CAPS, CHT, CLT, Shanteria Watson, OTD, OTR/L
Abstract:
The purpose of this study examine effectiveness in an OT training curriculum aimed at educating OT faculty on performance anxiety within the collegiate athlete population, and to advocate and educate OT faculty on occupational therapy’s role in student athlete care to be used for future learning material. Student athletes are challenged by balancing the multiple role demands and contexts required to navigate their new everyday life (Gates, 2023). Performance anxiety is characterized as intense feelings of emotional distress before, during, or after performing in front of others (Beenen, 2025). Athletic performance and occupational balance are closely linked, with an imbalance exacerbating performance anxiety symptoms (Heinrich, 2018). Previous research has shown the prevalence of anxiety in student-athletes to range from 8.6% to 48% (Hwang, 2023). There is minimal research on Occupational Therapy’s role in working with athletes to manage performance anxiety. With an absence of evidence based literature there is a need to address the knowledge gap within in OT’s role working with this client population. The research design used to create this project was program development which included needs assessment of learners and a pre-post test to track knowledge gains. From the needs assessment, targeted learners showed interest in performance anxiety and the athlete population, but had limited exposure in trainings. Feedback from the training was positive with suggestions for improvement, and learners showed an increase in knowledge specifically on the definition of performance anxiety and its components, as well as, commonly used screening tools. Performance anxiety significantly impacts student-athlete wellbeing and occupational balance identifying a need for OT within this setting and population. This curriculum serves as foundation for expanding OT's role in collegiate athletics and addressing performance anxiety. Implications of the study were that information was collected from Howard University faculty
Recommended Citation
Sturdivant, Myiah and Ross, Phyllis, "Getting in the Game: Innovating an Occupational Therapy Training Curriculum for Managing Performance Anxiety in Collegiate Athletes" (2025). Howard University, Department of Occupational Therapy Capstone and Faculty Research. 2.
https://dh.howard.edu/huotresearch/2
