Keywords
Association for Athletic Training Education 2025 Symposium
Abstract
Introduction: A recent survey examining barriers that affect athletic training students found that financial-related barriers created significant stress for students in professional athletic training programs. The need to work while attending a professional athletic training program was the highest reported barrier with 54.82% of respondents indicating that this was a barrier for them during their program. Beyond the overall reporting rate, the need to work while completing a professional athletic training program was indicated by athletic training students to be the barrier that they encountered the most frequently with respondents reporting that this was a stress for them between monthly and weekly. This study sought to gain a more in-depth understanding of the barriers and facilitators that contribute to financial stress for athletic training students and how athletic training programs can provide better financial-related support for students. Methods: Individual semi-structured online video interviews were completed with 11 athletic training students in the final year of their athletic training program and 1 recent graduate. Eight participants identified as female, 3 as male, and 1 as non-binary. Ten of the participants were traditionally aged when they completed their program and 2 were non-traditionally aged. Four participants attended private schools, while 8 attended public schools. Three participants were enrolled in accelerated athletic training programs, while 9 were enrolled in traditional graduate athletic training programs. Eight of the participants self-identified as White, 1 as Native American, and 3 identified as mixed-race. The interview guide was based on previous survey findings related to financial barriers and included questions designed to better understand financial-related stress for athletic training students. Qualitative data collected were analyzed using the Transformative Paradigm. Results: A qualitative analysis of the data found that financial barriers can take an emotional and psychological toll on athletic training students. The students interviewed in this study indicated that personal, clinical, and academic barriers and facilitators contributed to their financial stress. The most prominent personal barriers included psychological stress and strain, missing out on opportunities, and the strain of finances on their personal relationships. The financial-related clinical barriers of most concern for participants were access to clinical opportunities, the structure of clinicals, and preceptor interactions. Academic-related financial stresses primarily focused on class schedules, academic standing, scholarship opportunities, and the sunk cost fallacy. Additionally, some participants indicated that the financial-related stresses they experienced impacted their desire to continue their athletic training program through to graduation, as well as having a noteworthy impact on their plans to practice as athletic trainers after graduation. Translation to Practice: Some athletic training students are experiencing financial stress that has a real and direct impact on their emotional, academic, and psychological well-being. By better understanding what causes these financial stresses everyone involved in the education of athletic training students can critically evaluate policies and practices within their programs that may be negatively affecting their students.
Recommended Citation
Kuehner-Boyer, C
(2025)
"The Financial Stresses that Affect Athletic Training Students: A Qualitative Investigation,"
Clinical Practice in Athletic Training: Vol. 8:
Iss.
1, Article 11.
Available at:
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/clinat/vol8/iss1/11
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