Closing a chapter? A protocol for a longitudinal mixed methods study on retirement from elite sport

Area of Science:

• Sport Psychology
• Sociology of Sport
• Vocational Psychology

Background:

• Retirement from elite sport is a major life transition impacting athletes' identity and life meaning.
• Existing research identifies risk/protective factors but lacks insight into subjective athlete experiences during career termination.
• Understanding individual pathways in redefining work-life and sport relationships post-retirement is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between psychological resources, life situations, and the retirement process in elite athletes.
• To examine the interaction between post-retirement vocational careers, subjective careers, and meaningful work.
• To understand identity reconstruction, relationship with sport over time, and the influence of gender on athletes' life design.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal mixed-methods study employing a person-oriented approach.
• Narrative inquiry to identify individual differences and developmental pathways.
• Focus on positive psychological functioning: meaning, purpose, resilience, and life satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Identification of specific types and stories illustrating diverse career and personal development trajectories.
• Insights into how psychological resources influence the retirement transition process.
• Understanding of gender-specific pathways and reorientation strategies in athletes' post-sport lives.

Conclusions:

• The study complements research on psychological distress by focusing on positive psychological functioning in athletic retirement.
• Findings will inform targeted support programs to enhance well-being for retiring elite athletes.
• Knowledge gained contributes to developing socially sustainable elite sport systems for future generations.