Individuals with acquired physical disabilities report lower levels of athletic identity. The objective of this study was to further explore why athletic identity may be lost or (re)developed after acquiring a physical disability. Seven women and four men (range = 28–60 years) participated in approximately 1-hour-long semi-structured interviews; data were subjected to a narrative analysis. The structural analysis revealed three narrative types. The nonathlete narrative described physical changes in the body as reasons for diminished athletic identity. The athlete as a future self primarily focused on present sport behavior and performance goals such that behavior changes diminished athletic identity. The present self as athlete narrative type focused on the aspects of their present sport involvement, such as feedback from other athletes and skill development, which supported their athletic identity. Implications of these narrative types with respect to sport promotion among people with acquired physical disabilities are discussed.
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Narratives of Athletic Identity After Acquiring a Permanent Physical Disability
Marie-Josée Perrier, Shaelyn M. Strachan, Brett Smith, and Amy E. Latimer-Cheung
An Examination of the Relationship Between Athletic Identity and Career Maturity in Student-Athletes
James L. W. Houle and Annette S. Kluck
This study explored the extent to which athletic identity, belief of financial sustainability through participation at the professional level, scholarship status, and career decision-making self-efficacy predicted career maturity in college athletes. In addition, whether the relationship between athletic identity and career maturity differed depending upon scholarship status, belief of sustaining oneself financially as a professional athlete, and career decision-making self-efficacy was explored. Participants were 221 student-athletes from a large southeastern university. Participants provided demographic information and completed the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale, Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale—Short Form, and Career Decision Scale. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that athletic identity was inversely related to career maturity. In addition, career decision-making self-efficacy was related to career maturity, with high career decision-making self-efficacy associated with higher career maturity. Future research is needed to further explore psychological variables that may explain the relationship between athletic identity and career maturity.
Well-Being and Performance in Dual Careers: The Role of Academic and Athletic Identities
Fleur E.C.A. van Rens, Rebecca A. Ashley, and Andrea R. Steele
), student-athletes will likely develop both academic and athletic identities that align with their roles in these domains. However, research on student-athletes’ identities has almost exclusively focused on their athletic identity ( Yukhymenko–Lescroart, 2014 ). Athletic identity reflects the degree to
The Influence of Athletic Identity on Mental Health Symptoms During Retirement From Sport
Kylie Roberts, Kiersten Kuhlman, Megan Byrd, and Tamerah Hunt
Clinical Scenario Athletic identity (AI) can be defined as “the degree to which an individual identifies with an athlete role, and the values, and social networks associated with that identity.” 1 The development of a strong athletic identity can be beneficial in driving the performance and
Exploring the Athletic Identity, Anxiety, and Mental Health of Division II Collegiate Athletes in the COVID-19 Era
Justin A. Hebert and Aubrey Newland
experience anxiety may be tied to their athletic identity ( Sparkes, 1998 ). Athletic identity is defined as “the degree to which a person associates with the athlete role” ( Brewer et al., 1993 , p.237). Athletic identity is conceptualized by multiple dimensions—social identity, exclusivity, and negative
“Just Act Normal”: Concussion and the (Re)negotiation of Athletic Identity
Nikolaus A. Dean
personal narratives with Erving Goffman’s ( 1959 ) presentation of self theory. Through this application, I attempt to analyze and make sense of the (re)negotiation of my athletic identity due to the formidable impacts of sustaining a sport-related concussion (SRC). As Brewer, Van Raalte, and Linder ( 1993
The Influence of Athletic Identity, Passion, and Perceptions of Severity of Concussions on Athletes’ Willingness to Report Concussion Symptoms
Eric M. Martin, Megan Byrd, Adriana Amador, Emma Ridenhour, and Carolena Charalambous
relationship between athlete’s reporting behavior and Big 5 personality traits, 14 athlete’s self-efficacy, 15 and athlete’s intention to report. 16 Two unexplored psychological variables that might be critical to understanding willingness to report concussion symptoms are athletic identity (AI) and sport
“Someone to Talk to”: Influence of Player Welfare Provision on Mental Health in Professional Rugby League Players
Susanna Kola-Palmer, Samantha Buckley, Gabrielle Kingston, Jonathan Stephen, Alison Rodriguez, Nicole Sherretts, and Kiara Lewis
’ experiences of stress and the potential consequences of experiencing stress, so that appropriate and effective interventions can be developed to help athletes cope effectively ( McKay et al., 2008 ). Athletic Identity An athlete’s identity may also have an influence on their perception of stress and
Identity Foreclosure, Athletic Identity, and Career Maturity in Intercollegiate Athletes
Geraldine M. Murphy, Albert J. Petitpas, and Britton W. Brewer
A study was conducted with 124 intercollegiate student-athletes at an NCAA Division I institution to examine the relationship between self-identity variables (i.e., identity foreclosure and athletic identity) and career maturity. Results indicated that both identity foreclosure and athletic identity were inversely related to career maturity. Significant effects of gender, playing status (varsity vs. nonvarsity), and sport (revenue producing vs. nonrevenue producing) on career maturity were observed. The findings suggest that failure to explore alternative roles and identifying strongly and exclusively with the athlete role are associated with delayed career development in intercollegiate student athletes, and that male varsity student-athletes in revenue-producing sports may be especially at risk for impaired acquisition of career decision-making skills. The results underscore the importance of understanding athletic identity issues and exercising caution in challenging sport-related occupational aspirations in presenting career development interventions to student-athletes.
The Impact of Athletic Identity, Psychological Flexibility, and Value Consistent Living on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Retired Elite Rugby Players
Jacqueline Mooney, Andrew Bethell, Chris Wagstaff, and Ross White
many do not seek help. Other factors associated with the experience of retirement include demographic characteristics including type of sport participation and athletic identity (self-identity in sport; Park et al., 2013 ). Although research has been inconclusive in this area and requires further
