Domain Specific Life Satisfaction in the Dual Careers of Junior Elite Football Players: The Impact of Role Strain
in Journal of Clinical Sport PsychologyClick name to view affiliation
Using a holistic perspective on athlete talent development, this study examines the impact of role strain on the life satisfaction in various life domains of junior elite Australian Rules Football players. One hundred and twelve talent-identified male Australian Rules Football players (Mage = 16.8; SD = .71) completed measures of role strain and multidimensional life satisfaction. The results indicated that role strain explained twelve to twenty-four percent of the variance in life satisfaction in the players’ life domains. Experiences of role strain related to the players’ dual careers were associated with decreased life satisfaction in sport, friendships, family, yourself, and global life satisfaction domains. Situations in which the players perceived that their abilities were underutilized were also negatively associated with life satisfaction across various life domains. This study thus evidences the importance of a domain specific, holistic approach to investigate the life satisfaction in junior athletes’ dual careers.
van Rens is with the School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia. Borkoles is with the Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. Farrow is with the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia; and also with the Australian Institute of Sport, Movement Science, Belconnen, Canberra, Australia. Polman is with the School of Exercise & Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
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