Impact of Involuntary Retirement on the Mental Wellbeing of Female Athletes
Session Title
Other Abstracts
Faculty Mentor
Janet Wojcik, Ph.D.| Martha Dettl-Rivera, Ed.D.
College
College of Education
Department
Physical Education, Sport & Human Performance
Abstract
Participation in sports is often associated with many physical and psychological health benefits. However, it can also have negative consequences such as career-ending injuries which may have long-term effects on mental health. Research suggests that involuntary athletic retirement, due to injury, illness, or being cut from a sport can have detrimental effects on the mental health of athletes. Researchers have often overlooked the impact of retirement specifically in female athletes. Although females often report similar difficulties with retiring from sport as male athletes do, female athletes are often faced with underlying reasons for retirement. Some of these factors that female athletes may face include fewer opportunities for continued participation after college because of limited options to play professionally, the disproportionate amount of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female athletes, as well as planned or unplanned pregnancies that force female athletes to retire. Athletes who are forced to retire from their sport may experience lifelong effect on their psychological well-being, including depression, anxiety, substance misuse, loss of identity, and disordered eating. It is important to take a closer look at how involuntary retirement affects female athletes specifically.
Course Assignment
PESH 381 – Wojcik
Start Date
15-4-2023 12:00 PM
Impact of Involuntary Retirement on the Mental Wellbeing of Female Athletes
Participation in sports is often associated with many physical and psychological health benefits. However, it can also have negative consequences such as career-ending injuries which may have long-term effects on mental health. Research suggests that involuntary athletic retirement, due to injury, illness, or being cut from a sport can have detrimental effects on the mental health of athletes. Researchers have often overlooked the impact of retirement specifically in female athletes. Although females often report similar difficulties with retiring from sport as male athletes do, female athletes are often faced with underlying reasons for retirement. Some of these factors that female athletes may face include fewer opportunities for continued participation after college because of limited options to play professionally, the disproportionate amount of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female athletes, as well as planned or unplanned pregnancies that force female athletes to retire. Athletes who are forced to retire from their sport may experience lifelong effect on their psychological well-being, including depression, anxiety, substance misuse, loss of identity, and disordered eating. It is important to take a closer look at how involuntary retirement affects female athletes specifically.
