Disordered eating is a psychological ailment that befalls many athletes and can persist into retirement. Links have been established between disordered eating and societal and sport-specific pressures; however, little research has focused on the perspective of retired athletes in a time-based sport. The purpose of the current research was to explore the conceptualization of disordered eating in relation to swimming participation, how retirement affects eating patterns, and ways to mitigate disordered eating. Following IPA methodological guidelines, a homogeneous sample of retired swimmers (N = 6) was chosen for semistructured, participant-driven interviews determined by scores on a disordered-eating questionnaire. Three superordinate themes were revealed: (1) pressures unique to swimming, (2) transition to eating pattern awareness, and (3) maintaining ideal eating patterns in retirement. The results revealed a combination of novel findings and expansion of previous data on disordered eating. Suggestions for applications of current findings and for future research are also discussed.
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Hannah Cooper and Stacy Winter
Zachary C. Merz, Joanne E. Perry, and Michael J. Ross
an adjustment disorder, with many exhibiting more depressive symptomatology (e.g., depressed mood, lack of enjoyment, irritability, and sleep disturbances). This pattern is consistent with previous research, which estimates that, following sport retirement, 15–20% of elite athletes experience
Simon Rice, Matt Butterworth, Matti Clements, Daniel Josifovski, Sharyn Arnold, Cecily Schwab, Kerryn Pennell, and Rosemary Purcell
from sport, retirement from sport, social isolation when traveling and competing internationally in an individual sport, and relationship difficulties with coaching staff or with the broader national sporting organization. Program Reflexivity Implementation of the Mental Health Referral Network has
Nick Galli, Skye Shodahl, and Mark P. Otten
personal improvement, high standards of achievement, and frequent attention from others (e.g., fans, media, peers), to the beginning of life as an “ordinary person.” Sport Retirement, Body Image, and Health Behaviors The sport retirement transition is multidimensional, forcing retired athletes to adapt
Jimmy Sanderson and Katie Brown
. Jewett , R. , Kerr , G. , & Tamminen , K . ( 2019 ). University sport retirement and athlete mental health: A narrative analysis . Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise, and Health, 11 ( 3 ), 416 – 433 . doi:10.1080/2159676X.2018.1506497 10.1080/2159676X.2018.1506497 LaFerney , D . ( 2016
Stephanie L. Barrett and Trent A. Petrie
). For athletes who have foreclosed on their identity while active competitors, or have sustained a high level of this identity as they transition out of sport, retirement can be particularly difficult ( Buckley, Hall, Lassemillante, Ackerman, & Belski, 2019 ; Pearson & Petitpas, 1990 ) and be
Satu Kaski, Monna Arvinen-Barrow, Ulla Kinnunen, and Jari Parkkari
adjustment to sport retirement. In summary, existing elite athlete mental well-being research has been focused on exploring the absence and/or presence of mental ill-being, as opposed to presence of mental well-being. Consistent with the WHO definition of mental well-being, our research aims to address this
Sophie Knights, Emma Sherry, Mandy Ruddock-Hudson, and Paul O’Halloran
the time they concluded their career. Sport Retirement Defined Retirement is defined as withdrawing oneself from a specific activity ( Brady, 1988 ). Sport retirement is defined as the separation of an athlete from their sport ( DiCamilli, 2000 ). Sport retirement can either have a positive or
Zoe Louise Moffat, Paul Joseph McCarthy, Lindsey Burns, and Bryan McCann
athletic identity: College athletes and sport retirement . Journal of Loss and Trauma: International Perspectives on Stress and Copin, 24 ( 1 ), 17 – 30 . https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2018.1522475 10.1080/15325024.2018.1522475 Merton , R.K. ( 1948 ). The self-fulfilling prophecy . Antioch
Michelle Pannor Silver
). University sport retirement and athlete mental health: A narrative analysis . Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11 ( 3 ), 416 – 433 . doi:10.1080/2159676x.2018.1506497 10.1080/2159676X.2018.1506497 Jones , R.L. , Glintmeyer , N. , & McKenzie , A. ( 2005 ). Slim bodies, eating
