2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Fostering Emotional Literacy in Male Student Athletes

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-15-2025

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Matthew Genuchi

Abstract

Emotional illiteracy and distress are common factors that influence behaviors and hinder individuals from reaching a state of calmness, especially in men. These problems are especially heightened by societal stigma surrounding emotional expression and traditional concepts of masculinity, leading to negative coping mechanisms such as alcohol and drug abuse. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to enhance emotional literacy and healthy coping mechanisms in male student athletes through a seven-session intervention, Get Reps. This intervention focused on developing social-emotional skills and exploring aspects of masculinity, while measuring areas such as distress tolerance, emotional literacy, and a sense of belongingness. Participation was voluntarily and data was collected on two different points: pre-intervention and mid-intervention. However, due to inconsistent attendance, only a small number of participants completed the study at all designated times, limiting the ability to draw conclusions across all measurements. Despite these limitations, results showed that while no significant improvements were found in the areas of measurements, participants reported that the program helped them reflect on becoming healthier men with strong satisfaction with the intervention. Future iterations of this study should focus on strategies to improve participation, such as incentives and more consistent support from coaches to further enhance the program’s impact and maximize its potential for promoting emotional well-being among male student-athletes.

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