Athletic Identity: Balancing Sport Performance and Personal Identity
Please note, this blog is for informational and educational purposes only and does not replace professional or medical advice.
Athletic identity plays a crucial role in the lives of many athletes and performers. This blog post explores the concept of athletic identity, its impacts, and strategies for maintaining a healthy balance between athletic pursuits and overall identity development.
What is Athletic Identity?
Athletic identity is the degree to which an individual identifies with the athlete role and looks to others for acknowledgement of that role (1) . It's present in most people to some degree, not just elite athletes. While athletic identity can have positive effects such as increased motivation (2), competitiveness (3,4) and engagement in physical activity (3), it can also lead to challenges such as overtraining, consumption of illicit performance enhancement substances, training while injured, disordered eating (5-6), and a negative impact on self-esteem (7) and motivation (7) if not properly balanced.
The Canadian Sport System and Early Specialization
For many athletes and performers in Canada, participation starts at a young age and intensifies throughout childhood and adolescence. This is largely due to the landscape of the Canadian sport system that focuses on early specialization. However, researchers have identified potential negative consequences of this approach, including:
· Burnout (8-11)
· Early sport dropout (8-11)
· Physical injury from overtraining (8-11)
· Implications for identity development (12)
Overall, Early sport specialization is a growing concern among sport federations due to these associated negative effects.
Potential Risks of Over-Identification with Athletic Identity
An overidentification with sport or performance can result in a lack of identity development in other aspects of life. This can become problematic both during the competitive career and when transitioning out of competitive environments. Potential risks include:
· Difficulty adjusting to life after competitive sports (13)
· Mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and grief (13)
· Loss of community and social relationships (13)
Developing a Healthy Athletic Identity
To work on developing a healthy relationship between competitive performance and identity, consider the following strategies:
1. Mind Your Language: Notice how you describe yourself. Saying "I am a soccer player" versus "I play soccer" differentiates between a definition of self and an activity you engage in. This subtle shift in language can impact your self-perception and identity.
2. Explore Other Interests: Engage in hobbies, passions, and relationships outside of your sport. This could include activities like reading, painting, learning a musical instrument, or volunteering. These experiences help you learn about yourself beyond your athletic pursuits.
3. Plan for the Future: While you don't need to have everything figured out, think about what you want life to look like post-performance career. This can help normalize and prepare for the transition. Consider speaking with a career counselor or mentor about how your athletic skills such as teamwork, work ethic, sport-specific knowledge, among others can transfer to other fields.
4. Redefine Sport Participation: After moving out of competitive environments, redefine what sport/performance participation means to you. This may include:
· Normalizing changes in athletic ability and dietary needs.
· Trying new sports or finding different ways to move your body (yoga, dance, etc).
· Staying engaged in the sport you played as a coach or mentor.
· Recognizing that you don’t have to be an exceptional performer to enjoy sport and physical activity participation.
5. Set Realistic Goals: Don't compare current ability out of competitive environments to past athletic ability at peak performance. Instead, set realistic fitness goals that align with your current lifestyle and priorities.
The Role of Athletic Identity in Long-term Sports Participation
It's important to note that athletic identity can play a positive role in maintaining long-term sports participation and physical activity. By viewing oneself as an athlete, individuals may be more likely to prioritize physical activity throughout their lives, leading to better overall health outcomes. The challenge is to redefine what the word athlete means to you at different stages of your life, and having that flexibility to shift that definition as you move through the different seasons of life.
Conclusion
Athletic identity is a complex aspect of an athlete's overall sense of self. While it can drive performance and dedication, it's crucial to develop a well-rounded identity that extends beyond sport. By implementing the strategies discussed, athletes can work towards a healthy balance that supports both their athletic pursuits and overall personal development. Remember, identity development is an ongoing process. Engage in continuous identity work, allowing for development, revision, and maintenance of your sense of self both within and outside of your athletic pursuits.
By Meghan Ingstrup, R.Psych, MA, MSc
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
info@inyourelementpsych.com
IG: @inyourelementpsyc
References:
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Brewer, B., Boin, P., Petitpas, A., Van Raalte, J., & Mahar, M. (1993, August 19-22). Dimensions of Athletic Identity. In Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Babić, V., Sarac, J., Missoni, S., & Sindik, J. (2015). Athletic Engagement and Athletic Identity in Top Croatian Sprint Runners. Collegium Antropologicum, 39(3), 521-528.
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Coker-Cranney, A., Watson, J. C., Bernstein, M., Voelker, D. K., & Coakley, J. (2018). How far is too far? Understanding identity and overconformity in collegiate wrestlers. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 10(1), 92-116. doi:10.1080/2159676x.2017.1372798
Brewer, B. W., Cornelius, A. E., Stephan, Y., & Van Raalte, J. (2010). Self-protective changes in athletic identity following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 11(1), 1-5. 10.1016/j.psychsport.2009.09.005
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Voorheis, P., Silver, M., & Consonni, J. (2023). Adaptation to life after sport for retired athletes: A scoping review of existing reviews and programs. PloS One, 18(9), Article e0291683. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291683
