Graduation Term

Spring 2026

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Committee Chair

Connie Dyar

Committee Member

Elke Altenburger

Committee Member

Amari Dryden

Abstract

This research furthers the conversation surrounding holistic female student-athlete wellness, recognizing that their experiences can be inequitable – influenced by the intersectionality of race, gender, and athletic identity (Armstrong et al., 2018; Druckman et al., 2018; Neeley et al., 2021). This research accredits the physical environments where athletes train, recover, and connect as an underexplored factor in holistic well-being.

The Indivisible Self Model of Wellness (IS-WEL) was used to (1) explore the influence of physical design features on female student athletes' holistic well-being and (2) understand how their identity shapes how they experience and attach meaning to their team environments.

This mixed-methods study used photo-elicitation interviews and a quantitative survey: seven student-athletes photographed meaningful campus spaces and were interviewed, while 52 completed a questionnaire.

Composite variables for place attachment (M= 39.33, SD= 6.92) and well-being (M= 36.83, SD= 7.26), results revealed a significant relationship (r=.47, p< .001), supporting qualitative results that indicated features in athletic spaces play a role in student-athlete well-being. Meaningful racial and intersectional differences emerged, with White female athletes reporting the highest place attachment scores and Nonwhite female athletes reporting the lowest, reinforcing qualitative findings that well-being and identity are shaped through the built environment.

Access Type

Thesis-Open Access

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