Transitioning out of elite sport: The central role of groups in support experiences

IF 3.3 2区心理学 Q2 HOSPITALITY, LEISURE, SPORT & TOURISM

Psychology of Sport and Exercise Pub Date : 2025-05-15 DOI:10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.102873

Rachel Crook , Pete Coffee , Carinthia Bank , Kacey C. Neely , Chris Hartley , Catherine Haslam , Katherine A. Tamminen

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

In the present study, we explored the perceived impact of changes in athletes' social group memberships on their identities and social support experienced during transition to retirement. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, we explored how athletes interpreted their experiences and connected them to their personal and social environments. Participants were seven (5 male, 2 female) former elite athletes, aged 26 and 40 years (Mage = 34 ± 4.96 years). They represented badminton, basketball, football/soccer, and rugby, having transitioned from their sport careers 9 months to 11 years prior to data collection (M = 5.25 ± 3.85 years). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and analysis included reflexivity and an independent audit trail. We identified four main themes: (a) support received from maintaining existing social groups, (b) support opportunities gained by joining new social groups, (c) the support lost through identity changes in retirement, and finally, (d) the support offered by adopting a retired athlete identity. The results highlight the importance of approaching athlete identity and retirement from a social identity perspective. Our results also suggest that social groups and subsequent social identities may influence psychosocial outcomes through group-based social support, while arguing that the effectiveness of social support depends on the compatibility of these identities with an athlete's existing or gained identities. Finally, we offer applied considerations for athletes and sport organizations, suggesting that retired athletes benefit from mentoring and engaging in organizations supporting transitioned athletes to build meaningful connections during this transition.

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从精英运动过渡：团体在支持经验中的核心作用。

本研究探讨了运动员社会群体成员身份的变化对运动员退役过渡期的身份认同和社会支持体验的感知影响。利用解释性现象学分析，我们探讨了运动员如何解释他们的经历，并将其与个人和社会环境联系起来。研究对象为前优秀运动员7名（男5名，女2名），年龄分别为26岁和40岁（年龄= 34±4.96岁）。他们代表羽毛球、篮球、足球/足球和橄榄球，在收集数据之前，他们的运动生涯从9个月过渡到11年（M = 5.25±3.85年）。数据通过半结构化访谈收集，分析包括反身性和独立审计跟踪。我们确定了四个主要主题：(a)从维持现有社会团体中获得的支持；(b)通过加入新的社会团体获得的支持机会；(c)因退役身份变化而失去的支持；最后(d)采用退役运动员身份所提供的支持。研究结果强调了从社会认同的角度看待运动员身份和退役的重要性。我们的研究结果还表明，社会群体和随后的社会身份可能通过基于群体的社会支持影响心理社会结果，同时认为社会支持的有效性取决于这些身份与运动员现有或获得的身份的兼容性。最后，我们为运动员和体育组织提供了应用考虑，建议退役运动员受益于指导和参与支持过渡运动员的组织，以在过渡期间建立有意义的联系。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Psychology of Sport and Exercise 医学-心理学

CiteScore

6.40

自引率

5.90%

发文量

172

审稿时长

69 days

期刊介绍： Psychology of Sport and Exercise is an international forum for scholarly reports in the psychology of sport and exercise, broadly defined. The journal is open to the use of diverse methodological approaches. Manuscripts that will be considered for publication will present results from high quality empirical research, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, commentaries concerning already published PSE papers or topics of general interest for PSE readers, protocol papers for trials, and reports of professional practice (which will need to demonstrate academic rigour and go beyond mere description). The CONSORT guidelines consort-statement need to be followed for protocol papers for trials; authors should present a flow diagramme and attach with their cover letter the CONSORT checklist. For meta-analysis, the PRISMA prisma-statement guidelines should be followed; authors should present a flow diagramme and attach with their cover letter the PRISMA checklist. For systematic reviews it is recommended that the PRISMA guidelines are followed, although it is not compulsory. Authors interested in submitting replications of published studies need to contact the Editors-in-Chief before they start their replication. We are not interested in manuscripts that aim to test the psychometric properties of an existing scale from English to another language, unless new validation methods are used which address previously unanswered research questions.