Retirement in elite sport

Question 1

What does the career contingency model consist of?

Answer 1

Involvement - Continuity - Dis-involvment - Re-involvement.

Question 2

What are the 2 models related to a singular event (Prus and Irani, 1980; Plus, 1984)

Answer 2

• Social gerontological

- Thanatological

Question 3

Define the Social Gerontological model

Answer 3

Systematic analysis of the ageing process

Question 4

Define the Thanatological model

Answer 4

Study of death/dying

Question 5

What are the 6 main negative consequences of retirement stated by Sinclair and Orlick (1993)?

Answer 5

Alcohol, substance abuse, acute depression, eating disorder, identity loss and attempted suicide.

Question 6

(Social gerontological model) How does Havighurst and Albrecht (1953) define the Activity Theory?

Answer 6

“activity in a wide variety of social roles is positively related to happiness and good social adjustment in old age” (P. 309) (-adjustment to retirement is successful when an active role is substituted by new roles).

Question 7

(Social gerontological model) How does Atchley (1989) define the Continuity Theory?

Answer 7

-Adjustment to retirement is successful when an individual experiences minimal change (continuity), both internally (activities) and externally (interactions).

Question 8

(Social gerontological model) How does Rose (1962) define the Sub-Culture Theory?

Answer 8

-Prolonged social interactions among individuals (e.g. retirement communities) may lead to group consciousness and lower adjustment during retirement.

Question 9

What are the strengths of the social gerontological model suggested by Wylleman, Alfermann and Lavallee (2004)?

Answer 9

-Enable us to explain or perhaps predict the quality of athletic retirement

Question 10

What are the 4 limitations of the social gerontological model suggested by Wylleman, Alfermann and Lavallee (2004)?

Answer 10

• Athletic retirement (and sport generally) is a unique and dynamic process
• Athletes retire at an earlier age than the general population
• Athletic retirement does not mean occupational retirement
• Assumes that athletic retirement is inherently negative requiring considerable adjustment/ does not explain positive experiences of retirement.

Question 11

How does Kalish (1966) define the Social Death Model (Social Thanatological Model)?

Answer 11

-Retirement viewed as a ‘social death’ through which individuals experience a loss of social functioning and isolation.

Question 12

(Thanatological model) What are the 5 identifiable stages suggested by Kubler-Ross (1969) from the stages model of death and bereavement?

Answer 12

• Denial and isolation
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Resignation

Question 13

What are the 2 main strengths stated by Wylleman et al (2004) for the Thanatological model (social death model)?

Answer 13

• Intuitively appealing (likeable and informative)

- Provide some insights into athletes’ experience of retirement.

Question 14

What are the 4 main limitations stated by Wylleman et al (2004) for the Thanatological model (social death model)?

Answer 14

• Lacks sport utility/application
• Doesn’t account for positive experience of retirement
• Assumes athletic retirement is a discrete event
• Does not consider voluntary retirement/transition

Question 15

How does Schlossberg (1981) define transition?

Answer 15

“an event or non-event which results in a change in assumptions about oneself and the world and thus requires a corresponding change in one’s behaviour and relationships”

Question 16

Define event

Answer 16

expected or unexpected occurrence

Question 17

Define non-event

Answer 17

Expected occurrence that does not happen

Question 18

Why was retirement as a transitional process used?

Answer 18

-Prompted by research indicating a less traumatic character of retirement and the suggestion that career termination could serve as a positive opportunity for development.

Question 19

What are the 3 sets of factors interact during transition in Schlossberg’s (1981) model of human adaptation to transition?

Answer 19

• Characteristics of the individual (e.g. gender, age, personality)
• Perception of the transition (crisis, relief, combination)
• Characteristics of the pre- and post-transition environment (e.g. support)

Question 20

(transition type) Define normative

Answer 20

Generally predictable and anticipated, part of a definite sequence of age-related changes

Question 21

(transition type) Define non-normative

Answer 21

Do not occur in a set plan or schedule, unanticipated, idiosyncratic, involuntary, includes non-events.

Question 22

What is Kerr and Dacyshyn’s (2000) 3 sage model consist of?

Answer 22

“retirement” - “nowhere land” - “new beginnings”

Question 23

What does Kerr and Dacyshyn (2000) state the 3 characteristics of “nowhere land” is?

Answer 23

• Disorientation: -existential questioning -no direction to life -uncertain where to focus energy
• Feeling of void: -need to find a similarly fulfilling activity
• Reorientation: -retrospective analysis and deconstruction of sporting experiences -period of ‘working through’ to resolve conflicts -transition problematic until conflicts resolved.

Question 24

What did Roberts et al (2015) find were the 4 main reasons for retirement?

Answer 24

• Reluctant for retirement: making the decision yourself but not perceiving this to be a free choice
• Contractual pressures: “the stress was too much. I had no idea whether i’d get another contract; nobody was giving me any information. I was living on the edge; I had to get out… get away from not knowing. I wanted something with more security.” (participant E)
• Lack of communication: needing to second-guess the club
• Sport devaluation: no longer valuing participation in the sport

Question 25

What were the 3 factors Roberts et al (2015) find affected adaptation?

Answer 25

• Limited pursuit of other interests: Lack of control, Lack of opportunity.
• Developmental experiences: Education, Off-season, Ineffective programmes
• Coping strategies: Problem-focused, Avoidance, Social support

Question 26

What did Roberts et al (2015) find was the main reactions to retirement?

Answer 26

• Loss: Social, Personal, Physical
• Negative emotions: Negative reflection, Void, Bitterness
• Occupational problems: Lack of direction, Similar professions

Question 27

What are the 15 factors related to transition?

Answer 27

• Life changes
• identity
• Voluntariness
• Drop out
• Demographic variables
• Time since retirement
• Injuries/ health
• Achievement
• Education
• Career/ personal development
• Balance
• Control of life
• Self-perception
• Financial status
• Coach relationship

Question 28

What are the 4 available resources related to transition?

Answer 28

• Coping strategies
• Pre-planning
• Psycho-social support
• Support programmes

Question 29

Who are the 4 main authors associated with retirement?

Answer 29

• Wylleman et al (2004) -singular all ending events, critique of gerontological models, critique of thanatological models
• Kerr and Dacyshyn (2000) - “retirement”-“nowhere land”-“new beginnings”
• Roberts et al (2015) -Reasons for retirement, factors affecting adaptation, reactions to retirement, transitions
• Schlossberg (1981) -transitions events and non events, model of human adaptation to transition