Publication Date

Summer 2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Advisor

Howard Tokunaga; Megumi Hosoda; Ameer Almuaybid

Abstract

Collegiate athletes are a focal point for many universities. These student-athletes work most of their lives to make it to the university level. Many collegiate athletes aspire to make it to the professional level after they graduate from college, but only a rare handful make it to the top. The rest of the athlete population retires and is placed into a world of “normalcy,” but the transition out of athletics can be very challenging, impacting a person’s psychological well-being. Most of these athletes will have to work a professional job after leaving sports. The present study aimed to examine the moderating effect of meaningful work on the relationship between the loss of self-identity and psychological well-being. A sample of 89 retired collegiate athletes completed an online survey measuring the loss of self-identity, perceived levels of meaningful work, and psychological well-being. The results showed a strong relationship between the loss of self-identity and experience of lower psychological well-being, while meaningful work had a non-significant moderating effect. Results of exploratory analyses found that women, athletes under the age of 24, those who attended junior colleges, and those who were forced to retire due to reasons such as injury, were more heavily impacted by the loss of their self-identity. These findings stress the importance of athletes having the proper tools to prepare for their retirement from sports.

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