How stressful is retirement! Antecedents of stress linked to athletes’ career termination

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (8) ◽  
pp. 488-497
Author(s):  
Gennaro Pica ◽  
Luca Mallia ◽  
Antonio Pierro ◽  
Fabio Alivernini ◽  
Valter Borellini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Career Termination

scholarly journals The Effect of a Life Development Intervention on Sports Career Transition Adjustment

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Lavallee
Keyword(s):  
Intervention Group ◽  
Career Transition ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Performance Excellence ◽  
Intervention Package ◽  
Development Intervention ◽  
Professional Soccer ◽  
And Coping ◽  
And Control ◽  
Career Termination

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effectiveness of a life development intervention on career transition adjustment in retired professional athletes. Intervention (n = 32) and control groups (n = 39) were recruited for this study, both of which contained recently retired male professional soccer players. Data were collected on measures of career termination adjustment and coping with transitions, and the intervention group also participated in a life development intervention package. Results revealed significant postintervention treatment group differences on career transition adjustment in favor of the life development intervention, while significant within-group differences on career transition adjustment over time were also achieved for the intervention group. Results are discussed in relation to the personal and developmental costs of pursuing performance excellence.

scholarly journals Critical Analysis of Athlete Retirement from Sport

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Milda Treigienė ◽  
Saulius Šukys
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Personal Responsibility ◽  
Athletic Identity ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Scientific Practical ◽  
Career Termination

Object of the analysis. Investigation problem. Athletes' retirement from sports activities and their life after the end of their sports career is relevant in scientific, practical and social terms. The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of scientific studies on athletes’ retirement from sport and how it relates to their life after their carrier in sports.Research methods. The analysis of scientific literature revealed that the main reasons for athletes to finish their careers in sports were trauma, health-related problems or age. Retirement can also be associated with family or family planning. Sports career termination is discussed in two ways, when one retires from sport voluntarily and when one is forced to do so. Voluntary retirement for athletes is usually a planned event and thus most often it does not have a negative impact on their future life. These athletes tend to choose a family over their sports carriers, continue their education or go to work in sports related sectors. Another important factor is athletic identity. Athletes with strong athletic identity during their sports careers tend to have better social life after their retirement. These athletes also tend to have a strong athletic identity after their careers, thus they are less likely to experience stress or depressive symptoms due to their sports career termination. Forced retirement from sports career is usually due to career-ending injuries. Such career outcome is associated with greater short-term and long-term problems in the post-sport transition period. Since athletic careers are strongly controlled by others, the unforeseen outcomes of an unexpected sports career termination results in negative consequences that are related to increased personal responsibility for their further actions. This becomes a greater problem for those athletes that have a higher level of athletic identity as it results in anxiety and depression. Therefore, forced retirement from a sports career is considered to be the most troublesome and worrying problem in the field.Outcomes and conclusions An examination of research literature focused on athlete’s retirement suggests that termination of a sports career is an important event the consequences of which depend on whether it ends by own choice or not. Since the planned retirement from the sports career is less challenging, it is important to help athletes prepare for this stage of their lives. Additionally, it is crucial to focus all efforts on creating a support system for athletes who were forced to end their athletic careers.Keywords: athletic carrier, retirement, life after sport.

Reasons for Career Termination in Danish Elite Athletes: Investigating Gender Differences and the Time-point as Potential Correlates

2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 49-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Moesch
Keyword(s):  
Female Athletes ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Peak Performance ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Being There ◽  
Career Termination ◽  
Time Point

Abstract Introduction: Career termination, an inevitable step in every athlete’s career, has received increased attention within sport psychological research. A career termination that results in psychological problems is of special concern for sport federations, organizations and clubs. Research has shown that it is crucial to consider an athlete’s the reason for career termination. There is evidence that the causes of an involuntary and unplanned career termination are disadvantageous for athletes’ well-being. There are many important aspects of career termination, such as cultural and social aspects, gender, and the time-point of the occurrence. The present study therefore aims at investigating the causes of career termination and possible correlates with gender and the time-point thereof among Danish elite athletes. Method: Data was gathered from 68 retired Danish elite athletes about their reasons for career termination and about its time-point. A qualitative analysis with the reasons mentioned by the athletes was performed. Moreover, t-tests and chi-square tests were conducted to analyze differences between males and females, and among athletes ending their career at different time-points in their career. Results: The results revealed 10 different reasons given for career termination with lack of motivation, injury or health problems and family related reasons being the top three. Female athletes mentioned that they ended their career due to family-related reasons more often than their male peers. More than a third of all athletes ended their career before their perceived achievement of peak performance. Financial reasons seemed to be of more importance for career termination for athletes ending their career before or at peaking, whereas family-related reasons were more often mentioned by athletes during or after their performance peak. Discussion and conclusion: The results of the study provide an overview of the career termination reasons of Danish elite athletes, which can provide practitioners and organizations with helpful insight when designing respective interventions. When planning such interventions it could be advantageous to deliver specific support for women to enable them to optimally combine family life with an elite sport career.

The Effects of Involuntary Athletic Career Termination on Psychological Distress

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pia-Maria Wippert ◽  
Jens Wippert
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Initial Reaction ◽  
National Team ◽  
Personality Differences ◽  
Social Evaluative Threat ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Baseline Test ◽  
Career Termination ◽  
Mediator Variable

As career termination is an incisive event in life, it is therefore important to understand the effects of different types of retirement on an athlete’s biography. Thus, the present longitudinal study is concerned with the effects of career termination of professional national team-athletes on the development of psychopathological symptoms, locus of control, self-concept, and mood, with special consideration of the mediator variable “subjective control of event-onset.” Data were collected from 42 professional athletes (17 of whom experienced an unexpected dismissal and 4 voluntarily retired) using standardized questionnaires (SCL-90-R, ASTS, FKK) 10 days before event entrance (baseline-test), 10 days after, 3 weeks after, and 5.5 months after onset of career termination. Although the baseline data did not reveal personality differences between the groups, dismissed athletes showed significantly stronger psychological distress after event onset. They displayed a stronger initial reaction, a more severe crisis, and longer transition periods than the control group. Results are discussed in connection with the combination of social evaluative threat and forced failure during event onset and their strong effects on distress after career termination.

scholarly journals Are Career Termination Concerns Only for Athletes? A Case Study of the Career Termination of an Elite Female Coach

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 314-326
Author(s):  
Göran Kenttä ◽  
Stephen Mellalieu ◽  
Claire-Marie Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Expressive Writing ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Olympic Games ◽  
Career Transition ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Skills ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Career Termination

This paper presents a case study of an elite female coach and her career termination from a 20+ year career following a critical life incident. A novel autobiographical approach was adopted whereby the participant undertook expressive writing to describe her experiences before, during, and following coaching an athlete at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Thematic analysis indicated seven phases related to the participant’s experiences of the critical incident: Build up to the event, the event, the aftermath, recovery and reflection on the event, sampling of new avenues, enlightenment, and career rebirth. The findings reinforce the high demands placed upon elite coaches, the subsequent threats to physical and mental well-being, and the importance of having robust psychological skills and suitable social support to cope with these demands. Implications for preparing and supporting coaches for successful career transition are discussed.

Repercussions of Transition out of Elite Sport on Body Image

2003 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yannick Stephan ◽  
Jean Bilard
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Body Satisfaction ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Substantial Effect ◽  
Social Recognition ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Body ◽  
Elite Sport ◽  
Physical Capacities ◽  
Career Termination

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychological repercussions of transition out of elite sport from a bodily point of view. We hypothesized that the passage from a bodily over-investment to a more sedentary state would have an effect on body satisfaction. 16 Transitioning Athletes following the Sydney Olympic Games were compared with 16 Active Athletes two times during the transition period using the Body-Image Questionnaire of Bruchon-Schweitzer. Qualitative data in the form of interviews provided a complement to the quantitative data. Analysis yielded no significant differences 1 1/2 mo. after career termination between the two groups but showed a decrease in body satisfaction between 1 1/2 and 5 mo. after career termination for Transitioning Athletes, with a significant between-group difference at 5 mo. The Transitioning Athletes initially reported weight gain and uncertainty about their real physical capacities but also a continued social recognition that maintained body satisfaction. Over time, however, they were increasingly aware of this bodily deterioration, as ongoing exercise served as a reality test. Added to this were perceived decreases in social value as well as disturbing somatic manifestations. The result was a substantial effect on body satisfaction.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document