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Spiritual Care Perspective of College Student-Athletes

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Abstract

Spirituality in healthcare has been researched in multiple healthcare professions; however, very little research has been done in athletic training, and no studies have investigated the athletes’ perception. The purpose of our online survey study was to determine the perceptions of college student-athletes on spiritual care. Our participants included 268 collegiate student-athletes from both faith-based and non-faith-based institutions. Respondents agree that spirituality may affect treatment progress, addressing spiritual concerns of the athlete could result in a more positive outcome, and certified athletic trainers should have some basic skills and knowledge to support the spiritual needs of the athlete.

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Correspondence to Jennifer Livingston.

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McKnight, C.M., Livingston, J. Spiritual Care Perspective of College Student-Athletes. J Relig Health 58, 1938–1952 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-018-0675-2

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