DeFoor Mikalyn T, Stepleman Lara M, Mann Paul C
School of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
Sports Med Open. 2018 Nov 6;4(1):48. doi: 10.1186/s40798-018-0163-y.
In comparison to their heterosexual peers, lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) student-athletes encounter substantial challenges during their intercollegiate and professional athletic careers including detrimental stereotypes, harassment, and discrimination. Such non-inclusive environments promoted throughout the current Western culture of sport are notably associated with higher incidences of mental health and substance use disorders among LGB athletes across youth, collegiate, and professional sports. There have been significant gains at the collegiate level to address LGB-inclusive practices aimed towards administrators, educators, coaches, and student-athletes; however, there is currently no literature that addresses the unique role of the sports medicine team. As first-line healthcare providers for student-athletes, sports medicine physicians and athletic trainers are uniquely positioned to support collegiate LGB athletes through affirming sexual identity, recognizing distinctive health risks, and advocating inclusivity within the athletic training room. By examining major themes of concern among current LGB student-athlete experiences across the unique setting of US colleges and universities, this review article aims to further identify opportunities for sports medicine providers to promote positive health outcomes and improve the overall wellness of collegiate LGB student-athletes.
与异性恋同龄人相比，女同性恋、男同性恋和双性恋（LGB）学生运动员在其大学和职业运动生涯中面临着巨大挑战，包括有害的刻板印象、骚扰和歧视。当前西方体育文化中普遍存在的这种非包容性环境，尤其与青年、大学和职业体育中LGB运动员心理健康问题和物质使用障碍的较高发生率相关。在大学层面，针对管理人员、教育工作者、教练和学生运动员的LGB包容性做法已取得显著进展；然而，目前尚无文献探讨运动医学团队的独特作用。作为学生运动员的一线医疗服务提供者，运动医学医生和运动训练师具有独特的地位，能够通过确认性身份、认识到独特的健康风险以及在运动训练室倡导包容性来支持大学LGB运动员。通过审视美国高校独特环境下当前LGB学生运动员经历中关注的主要主题，本文旨在进一步确定运动医学服务提供者促进积极健康结果和改善大学LGB学生运动员整体健康状况的机会。
