ELITE ATHLETES‘ EXPERIENCES OF IDENTITY CHANGES DURING A CAREER- ENDING INJURY: AN INTERPRETIVE DESCRIPTION by ANN CAROLYN MUSCAT B.P.E., University of British Columbia, 1989 M.P.E.., University of British Columbia, 1992 M.A. University of British Columbia, 2004 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Counselling Psychology) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) April 2010 © Ann Carolyn Muscat, 2010 ii Abstract The purpose of the present study was to investigate patterns of identity change in elite athletes after a career ending injury. A qualitative study examined 9 retired athletes two to five years after their international competitive experience. An interpretive description analysis involved four levels of data analysis. The first level of data analysis identified a pattern of over identification with the elite athlete role and a clear pattern of more balanced identity contrasted with a less balanced identity prior to injury. The second level of analysis described smooth versus ineffective transitions after injury. At a third level of analysis, four factors (internal resources, cognitive coping style, relational connections and continuity with sport) emerged and were associated with smooth versus ineffective/turbulent retirement experiences. Finally, at the fourth level of analysis the study found four identity styles. These four styles (termed balanced identity, lost identity, intensification of identity and living for sport identity) are congruent with descriptions of adolescent identity and suggest that, for some athletes, tasks associated with identity development are delayed until retirement from sport. A pattern of positive adaptation was also identified, indicating that over commitment to an athletic identity does not preclude normative identity development or a positive retirement transition. Athlete autonomy and confidence, as well as relationships with coach, teammates and parents, were associated with the experience of a smooth versus turbulent retirement. Implications for practice are discussed in relation to factors that could promote adaptation in the event of sport injury or sport career termination. iii Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... iii Chapter 1: Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 Research Summary and Rationale ............................................................................................... 5 Organization of the Thesis ........................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 2: Approach To Inquiry...................................................................................................... 8 Introduction to Interpretive Description ...................................................................................... 9 Historical location. ................................................................................................................. 10 Philosophical assumptions. .................................................................................................... 10 Pragmatism. ........................................................................................................................... 13 Theoretical scaffolding. ......................................................................................................... 15 Personal position. ................................................................................................................... 16 Strengths and Challenges of Methodology ................................................................................ 17 Summary of Chapter .................................................................................................................. 18 Purpose of the study. .............................................................................................................. 18 Significance of the study. ...................................................................................................... 19 Chapter 3: Review of the Literature .............................................................................................. 21 Identity and Transitions ............................................................................................................. 21 Relevance to retirement. ........................................................................................................ 22 What is identity? .................................................................................................................... 23 What is the self? ..................................................................................................................... 24 Injury, Rehabilitation and Adaptations ...................................................................................... 26 Meaning-making and sport. ................................................................................................... 30 Identity, injury, and adaptations. ........................................................................................... 31 Depression, mood and injury. ................................................................................................ 33 Factors influencing adaptation. .............................................................................................. 34 Strong athlete identity and retirement. ................................................................................... 34 Athlete injury and retirement. ................................................................................................ 36 Athlete retirement. ................................................................................................................. 37 Summary of Chapter .................................................................................................................. 38 Chapter 4: Methodology ................................................................................................................ 40 Introduction to Method .............................................................................................................. 40 Application of Interpretive Description ..................................................................................... 41 Participants ................................................................................................................................ 42 Participant criteria. ................................................................................................................. 43 iv Selection. ............................................................................................................................... 43 Participant descriptions. ......................................................................................................... 44 Types of participant injuries. ................................................................................................. 45 Data Collection .......................................................................................................................... 46 Interviews. ............................................................................................................................. 46 Researcher‘s journal. ............................................................................................................. 49 Data Analysis ............................................................................................................................. 49 Rigour ........................................................................................................................................ 52 Credibility. ............................................................................................................................. 53 Fittingness. ............................................................................................................................. 53 Auditability. ........................................................................................................................... 54 Confirmability. ....................................................................................................................... 55 Ethical Considerations ............................................................................................................... 55 Key Decisions in Interpretation of Findings.............................................................................. 57 Chapter 5: Experiences of Elite Athlete Identity Before Injury .................................................... 59 Defining the Elite Athlete Identity ............................................................................................ 60 More Balanced and Less Balanced Identity .............................................................................. 63 Coach-athlete relationship and more balanced identity. ........................................................ 63 Coach-athlete relationship and less balanced identity. .......................................................... 69 Cultural influences and identity.