L20 - Career Transitions

Question 1

What does career transitions refer to? (Taylor et al, 2005)

Answer 1

• athletes adjustment to life after sport
• increased research interests in area
• emergence of career counselling programs for elite athletes

Question 2

What is the life span / developmental perspective to career transitions (lobe, 1999)

Answer 2

Stage 1: the sampling years (5-12)
Stage 2: the specialising years (13-15) 
Stage 3: the investment years (16+)
Stage 4: the maintenance years (16+)
Stage 5: retirement (mid to late 20's)

Question 3

What is the grieving process in retirement from sport (Kubler Ross, 1969)

Answer 3

Denial - isolation - anger - bargaining - depression - accetpance

Question 4

What are some psychological difficulties following involuntary retirement (Browning et al, 2012)?

Answer 4

• depression, feelings of anger/anxiety, eating disorders, decreased self confidence and self control, problems with body self relationship

Question 5

What is the conceptual model of adaptation to career transition (Taylor et al, 2003)

Answer 5

Causes of career termination -> available resources for adaptation to career transition -> quality of career transition

Causes of career termination -> factors related to adaptation to career transition -> quality of career transition

Question 6

Why do athletes retire (Taylor et al, 2005)?

Answer 6

• age, deselection, injury, voluntary/ free drive, relationship with coach, financial difficulties

Question 7

Moesch, Mayer and Elbe (2012) looked at reasons for career termination, what did they find?

Answer 7

In males
Lack of motivation (25.5%) and injury/health problems (26.5) highest

In females
Lack of motivation (33.3%) and family related reasons (33.3%).
Gender difference in family related reasons only

Question 8

What are some factors related to adaption to career transition (Taylor et al, 2005)

Answer 8

• development contributors, self identity, perceived control, social identity, tertiary contributors

Question 9

What are the most commonly research factors related to career transition? (Park et al, 2014)

Answer 9

1. Athletic identity
2. Demographic issues
3. Voluntariness of decision
4. Injuries/health problems
5. Career / personal development

Question 10

What are some available resources for adaptation to career transitions (Taylor et al, 2006)

Answer 10

• coping strategies, psychosocial support, pre retirement planning

Question 11

What are the three pillars of advice on career planning?

Answer 11

• education, life skills, employment

Question 12

Describe the bottom half of the conceptual model of adaptation to career transition (Taylor et al, 2005)

Answer 12

Quality of career transition - healthy career transition

Quality of career transition - career distress - intervention for career transition

Question 13

Discuss retired Canadian high performance athletes scores?

Answer 13

• 66% encountered some degree of difficulty during transitions
• 32% rated their transition as “extremely difficult and traumatic”
• 63% believed retirement changed their lives significantly and in a positive manner
• 74% felt satisfied with their lives since retirement

Question 14

What are some examples of career transition distress (Taylor et al, 2005)

Answer 14

• adjustment difficulties, occupational/ financial problems, family /social problem, psychopathology

Question 15

What are some possible interventions for career transitions ?

Answer 15

• cognitive,emotional, behavioural, social, organisational

Question 16

What is a “life development intervention”

Answer 16

• initial assessment of life events -> helping individuals to transfer skills from sport to another domain -> teaching skills to help cope with future events

Results showed this cam significantly assist elite athletes who experience career termination adjustment difficulties (Lvalle 2995)