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A longitudinal analysis of the transition to retirement from elite sport: Athletic identity, life satisfaction and career indecision
Abstract   Peer reviewed

A longitudinal analysis of the transition to retirement from elite sport: Athletic identity, life satisfaction and career indecision

Lisa Fraser, G Fogarty and M Albion
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Vol.12(Supplement 2), p.e174
Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, 7th National Physical Activity Conference, 6th National Sports Injury Prevention Conference (Be Active '09), 2009 (Brisbane, Australia, 14-Oct-2009–17-Oct-2009)
2010
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2009.10.366
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2009.10.366View
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Abstract

Human Movement and Sports Science elite sport retirement
Introduction: Retirement from elite sport marks a time of re-evaluation for athletes in many areas of life. Much research to date has indicated that this transition can have a marked impact upon an individual both socially and psychologically, while other studies have found no correlation between retirement difficulties and overall life satisfaction. One topic that has attracted much attention in the career transition literature is that of athletic identity. Athletic identity refers to the extent to which individuals identify with an athletic role. Research findings in this area indicate that athletes who possess a strong and exclusive level of athletic identity take longer to adapt to their post-sport life, and are more prone to experiencing psychosocial and career identity difficulties later in life. The current study aimed to track and compare the athletic identity levels, life satisfaction and career decision-making difficulties reported by Australian elite athletes over a three year period.Method: The participants in the study were 64 athletes (45 females) on sporting scholarships linked with the Australian Institute of Sport, a group for whom the term "athletic identity" has strong relevance. Participants were surveyed using the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS), Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS) and the Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire (CDDQ) in 2003 and again in 2006. The entire initial cohort was able to be followed up in 2006. Of this original group, 30 participants had retired from elite sport at follow-up.Results/discussion: Non-parametric tests were used to investigate differences in athletic identity, life satisfaction and career decision-making difficulties overtime within and between the continuing athlete and retired athlete groups. Overall, the retired athletes' levels of athletic identity were found to decrease significantly over the three years, whereas the continuing athletes were found to maintain the same level of athletic identity. Implications of these and other findings, related to levels of life satisfaction and career indecision, will be discussed in relation to the experience of the transition to retirement from elite sport.

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