Crook Rachel, Coffee Pete, Bank Carinthia, Neely Kacey C, Hartley Chris, Haslam Catherine, Tamminen Katherine A
University of Toronto, Canada.
Heriot-Watt University, United Kingdom.
Psychol Sport Exerc. 2025 Sep;80:102873. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.102873. Epub 2025 May 15.
In the present study, we explored the perceived impact of changes in athletes' social group memberships on their identities and social support experienced during transition to retirement. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, we explored how athletes interpreted their experiences and connected them to their personal and social environments. Participants were seven (5 male, 2 female) former elite athletes, aged 26 and 40 years (Mage = 34 ± 4.96 years). They represented badminton, basketball, football/soccer, and rugby, having transitioned from their sport careers 9 months to 11 years prior to data collection (M = 5.25 ± 3.85 years). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and analysis included reflexivity and an independent audit trail. We identified four main themes: (a) support received from maintaining existing social groups, (b) support opportunities gained by joining new social groups, (c) the support lost through identity changes in retirement, and finally, (d) the support offered by adopting a retired athlete identity. The results highlight the importance of approaching athlete identity and retirement from a social identity perspective. Our results also suggest that social groups and subsequent social identities may influence psychosocial outcomes through group-based social support, while arguing that the effectiveness of social support depends on the compatibility of these identities with an athlete's existing or gained identities. Finally, we offer applied considerations for athletes and sport organizations, suggesting that retired athletes benefit from mentoring and engaging in organizations supporting transitioned athletes to build meaningful connections during this transition.
在本研究中，我们探讨了运动员社会群体成员身份变化对其身份认同以及退役过渡期间所获得的社会支持的感知影响。我们采用解释现象学分析方法，探究运动员如何解读自身经历，并将这些经历与他们的个人及社会环境联系起来。研究参与者为7名（5名男性，2名女性）前精英运动员，年龄在26岁至40岁之间（平均年龄=34±4.96岁）。他们分别从事羽毛球、篮球、足球和橄榄球运动，在数据收集前9个月至11年已从其运动生涯退役（平均时长=5.25±3.85年）。数据通过半结构化访谈收集，分析包括反思性和独立的审计线索。我们确定了四个主要主题：（a）维持现有社会群体所获得的支持；（b）加入新社会群体所获得的支持机会；（c）退役后身份变化所失去的支持；最后，（d）采用退役运动员身份所提供的支持。研究结果凸显了从社会身份视角看待运动员身份认同和退役的重要性。我们的研究结果还表明，社会群体及随后的社会身份可能通过基于群体的社会支持影响心理社会结果，同时认为社会支持的有效性取决于这些身份与运动员现有或获得的身份的兼容性。最后，我们为运动员和体育组织提供了实际考量，建议退役运动员受益于指导并参与支持退役运动员的组织，以便在这一过渡期间建立有意义的联系。
