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Occupational Therapy's Role In Athletic Retirement, Diana Mellin, Karen Park, Madison Harris
Occupational Therapy's Role In Athletic Retirement, Diana Mellin, Karen Park, Madison Harris
Summer 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium
Athletic retirement is described as a life transition involving withdrawal from the athletic role. Throughout the process of athletic retirement, individuals experience a loss of identity, roles, routines, and social support which has shown to negatively impact their overall mental health and well-being (Marterella & Smoot, 2017). This study investigated elite athletes’ experiences throughout their transition to athletic retirement, a ten-question online survey and semi-structured interviews were administered. Themes that emerged from the data are occupational adjustment and relearning roles, experiencing a crossroads of identity, external expectations, and pressures. Participants shared experiencing a period of burnout and detachment right after …