Predicting Student-Athlete and Non-Athletes’ Intentions to Self-Manage Mental Health: Testing an Integrated Behaviour Change Model

The objective of this study was to assess the factorial and predictive validity of an Integrated Behaviour Change (IBC) model (Hagger & Chatzarantis, 2014) for predicting Higher Education (HE) student-athlete and non-athletes’ intentions to self-manage mental health. Students (n = 200) aged 21.10 (SD= 3.73; male = 53%; athlete =69%) completed a questionnaire, and a two-step model building approach was conducted (i.e. confirmatory factor [CFA] and path analysis). Demographic (i.e. female or male; athlete or non-athlete) and IBC (i.e. autonomous and controlled motivation, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and attitudes) variables were specified as predictors of students’ intentions to self-manage mental health. The factorial validity of the IBC was supported through models achieving satisfactory fit indices. Further, the path model explained a significant proportion of the variance for self-management intentions (R2 = 0.30). Autonomous (β = 0.29) and controlled (β = 0.13) motivation, alongside perceived behavioural control (β = 0.12) and gender (i.e. female; β = 0.12) predicted better self-management intentions. Autonomous motivation also positively predicted attitudes (β = 0.42), subjective norms (β = 0.32) and perceived behavioural control (β = 0.15). The promotion of autonomous motives and enhanced perceived behavioural control may offer the opportunity to facilitate effective self-management of mental health among students. Those involved in designing interventions may consider integrating the IBC for mental health promotion, tailoring interventions to gender and athlete norms.