University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2018-12-18 Investigating Post-sport Adjustment Experiences of Former Canadian Major Junior Hockey Players McCoy, Lauren K. McCoy, L. K. (2018). Investigating post-sport adjustment experiences of former Canadian major junior hockey players (Unpublished doctoral thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. http://hdl.handle.net/1880/109374 doctoral thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Investigating Post-sport Adjustment Experiences of Former Canadian Major Junior Hockey Players by Lauren K. McCoy A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY GRADUATE PROGRAM IN EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY CALGARY, ALBERTA DECEMBER, 2018 © Lauren K. McCoy 2018 Abstract This project explored the post-sport adjustment experiences of former Canadian major junior hockey (CHL) players in the years following their athletic retirement. This study was conducted using a qualitative, within-subjects, longitudinal research design to understand the manner by which elite CHL athletes make sense of their athletic retirement experiences across time. Four former CHL players participated in two semi-structured interviews; one occurred shortly after their athletic retirement and the next was conducted approximately 24 months later. Interviews were then analyzed in accordance with the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) method. Themes identified in each participant’s account were compared and contrasted across all participants to generate an in-depth portrayal that gave voice to participants’ athletic retirement and subsequent post-sport adjustment transitions. Results revealed that participants continued to have unresolved feelings about their athletic retirement and experienced conflicting emotions of both pride and embarrassment in relation to their athletic identity. Participants post- sport adjustment experiences focused on attempts to renegotiate self-worth and prove their worth off the ice. As the post-sport adjustment period progressed, participants described moving from avoidance based coping strategies to increasing action oriented coping strategies which facilitated feelings of control and autonomy. Recommendations for helping professionals are provided and highlight the need for person-centered and multi-level interventions to support athletic retirement transitions. Additional longitudinal research is required to further develop understanding of the ongoing effects of athletic retirement and elite athletes’ post-sport adjustment experiences across time. Keywords: athletic retirement, athletic career transition, post-sport adjustment, qualitative, longitudinal, interpretative phenomenological analysis ii Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge and extend my gratitude all those that have made this research possible. • To my brother, M. M., who not only inspired this research study but who served as an amazing consultant to the experiences of major junior hockey players. • To the research participants who bravely shared their athletic retirement and post-sport adjustment experiences. • To J. S. – Your seemingly endless faith in my capabilities along with your selfless sacrifice facilitated the completion of this project. • To committee members – Dr. Nancy Arthur, Dr. Nancy Moules, and Dr. David Paskevich – Thank you for acknowledging the personal salience of this project and for allowing me the creative freedom to fuse my passions for psychology and sport. • To all those I’ve met along my coaching career, including former skaters, current skaters, and many fellow coaches across Alberta. You continuously inspire my passion for coaching and demonstrate the character and resiliency built upon sport participation. • To former, current, and future players of the Canadian major junior hockey league and their families. My hope is that this research gives voice to the major junior hockey experience and can inform future prospective players and those that support them in their elite sport pursuits. iii Table of Contents Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………….. ii Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………… iii Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………...… iv List of Tables………………………………………………………………………………..ix List of Manuscripts………………………………………………………………………….x Chapter 1: Introduction…………………………………………………………………...... 1 Athletic Retirement and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL)……………………. 3 Research Problem and Purpose…………………………………………….. 6 Researcher Perspectives and Assumptions………………………………… 9 Rationale and Significance……………………………………………….....10 Key Terms and Concepts…………………………………………………... 11 Thesis Structure……………………………………………………………. 15 Chapter 2: Literature Review..…………………………………………………………….. 17 Manuscript: Using Career Development Theory to Inform Athletic Career Transition Intervention…………………………………………………………….. 18 Early Beginnings of Career Development Theories………………………. 18 Trait-and-Factor Theory…………………………………………… 19 Developmental Theories…………………………………………… 19 Social Cognitive Career Theories…………………………………. 19 Career Development Theory: A Constructivist Shift……………………… 20 Redefining Career Development…………………………………... 20 Constructivist Approach and Assumptions………………………... 21 Constructivist Career Theories…………………………………….. 21 Career Construction Theory………………………………... 22 Systems Theory Framework of Career Development……… 22 Chaos Theory of Careers……………………………………22 An Important Junction: Sport Psychology and Career Counselling……….. 23 Models of Athletic Development and Transition………………….. 23 Athletic Career Stage Descriptive Models………………….23 Explanatory Athletic Career Transition Models…………… 24 Current Status of Athletic Transition Models……………… 24 The Performance Narrative and Failure…………………………………… 24 Constructivist Frameworks and Athletic Career Development Intervention. 25 Current Status of Intervention Strategies in Athletic Career Development……………………………………………………….. 26 Constructivist Intervention Strategies for Career Development…… 27 A Place for Counseling Psychology in Career Counselling for Athletes…………………………………………………………….. 28 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………. 29 References………………………………………………………………….. 30 Literature Review………………………………………………………………….. 35 Reasons for Retirement…………………………………………………….. 35 iv Injury……………………………………………………………….. 35 Age Influences……………………………………………………... 36 Deselection…………………………………………………………. 36 Voluntary Versus Involuntary Nature of Transition……………………….. 37 Duration of Adjustment……………………………………………. 37 Emotional Responses………………………………………………. 38 Coping Patterns…………………………………………………….. 39 Post-Sport Adjustment Experiences of Elite Athletes……………………... 41 The Current Study………………………………………………………………….. 44 Chapter 3: Research Method & Design……………………………………………………. 47 Manuscript: Longitudinal Qualitative Research and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis: Philosophical Connections and Practical Considerations………………………………………………………………………48 Qualitative Longitudinal Research………………………………………….48 Key Characteristics of QLR………………………………………... 49 Time………………………………………………………... 49 Change……………………………………………………... 50 Iterative…………………………………………………….. 50 QLR Orientation and Research Methodology: An Issue of Fit……………. 51 Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis………………………………… 51 Philosophical Underpinnings………………………………………. 52 Phenomenology…………………………………………….. 52 Hermeneutics………………………………………………..52 Time………………………………………………………………... 53 Change……………………………………………………………....54 Longitudinal IPA……………………………………………………………54 The Current Status…………………………………………………..54 Practical Considerations……………………………………………. 55 Remaining Inductive……………………………………….. 56 Balancing Attrition and Informed Consent………………… 56 Managing Emotional Boundaries………………………….. 57 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………. 57 References…………………………………………………………………..59 Research Method and Design…………………………………………………….... 62 Research Method Selection…………………………………………………62 Research Questions……………………………………………….... 62 Research Method Congruence……………………………………... 62 Research Methods………………………………………………………….. 64 Participant Recruitment and Sampling…………………………….. 64 Sample Size………………………………………………... 65 Eligibility Criteria and Participants…………………………66 Confidentiality………………………………………………68 Data Collection……………………………………………………...69 Semi-Structured Interviews…………………………………69 Interview Procedures………………………………………..70 v Debriefing and Reimbursement……………………………. 72 Transcription Procedures…………………………………... 73 Data Analysis………………………………………………………. 73 Recording of Initial Impressions…………………………… 74 Developing Emerging Themes…………………………….. 74 Searching for Connections across Emergent Themes………74 Looking for Patterns across Cases…………………………. 75 Longitudinal Analysis……………………………………… 75 Establishing Credibility of Data…………………………..... 76 Journaling…………………………………………………...77 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………. 78 Chapter 4: Results………………………………………………………………………….. 79 Manuscript: “It’s a lot harder than people would think it is”: Understanding the Post-sport Adjustment Experiences of Former Canadian Major Junior Hockey Athletes…………………………………………………………………………….. 80 Athletic Retirement