Date of Award
8-2009
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Legacy Department
Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management
Committee Chair/Advisor
Anderson, Denise M.
Committee Member
Cawthon , Tony
Committee Member
Phillips , Terry Don
Committee Member
Schmalz , Dorothy
Committee Member
Stevens , Bonnie
Abstract
The college years are formative in adolescents' identity development, for intercollegiate athletes, the identity is 'athlete'. The extent an athlete relates to an athletic identity may play a role in behaviors, attitudes, and ultimately the transition from athlete to non-athlete. In this study, the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale, the Exhausted Eligibility Retirement Scale, and a demographic instrument were administered to student-athletes from a mid-sized public, land-grant university who had exhausted their athletic eligibility in the 2007-2008 academic year (N=53). Results indicated that athletes with a stronger athletic identity scored higher on the exhausted eligibility transition scale, suggesting the transition to non-athlete is easier. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sub-sample (N=15) to further explore the transition. The interviews revealed a theme of transition that suggests former athletes are excited to experience the life of a traditional college student, yet experienced a sense of loss of identity, social network, structure, and motivation.
Recommended Citation
Moreland-bishop, Leslie, "The Impact of Transition Out of Intercollegiate Athletics" (2009). All Dissertations. 397.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/397