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Fans applaud athletes for sharing mental health challenges

In a new study, SM faculty member Dae Hee Kwak finds that consumer mindsets have shifted over the past 15 years as cultural stigma around mental health has lessened.
Simone Biles
Simone Biles withdrew from the previous Olympic Games, one of more and more athletes to step back from their sports for mental health reasons. Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Several years ago, when tennis player Naomi Osaka took a break from the sport for her mental health, sport management faculty member Dae Hee Kwak studied public reaction to the announcement online. He and his colleagues were surprised to find that less than 20% disapproved of her decision.

Now Kwak is back with a series of new studies looking at fan support more broadly for athletes who revealed mental health issues or took breaks from their sports because of them. 

Read Kwak's article on The Conversation to see what he discovered.