@article{ref1,
title="Athletic identity and psychiatric symptoms following retirement from varsity sports",
journal="International journal of social psychiatry",
year="2017",
author="Giannone, Zarina A. and Haney, Colleen J. and Kealy, David and Ogrodniczuk, John S.",
volume="63",
number="7",
pages="598-601",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Despite evidence identifying adjustment difficulties among retiring athletes, research investigating factors that contribute to post-retirement complications is limited. Athletic identity may be an important determinant of adverse adaptation to sport retirement. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to address the influence of athletic identity on post-retirement depression and anxiety symptoms among varsity athletes. <br><br>METHOD: An anonymous, online survey regarding athletic identity and psychiatric symptoms was completed by 72 self-identified varsity athletes during their final season of competition and 3 months after retiring from sport. <br><br>RESULTS: After controlling for the effects of pre-retirement anxiety symptoms, endorsement of an athletic identity significantly predicted anxiety symptoms in the post-retirement period. A similar, but non-significant, pattern was observed for depressive symptoms. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that athletes' degree of athletic identity may be a risk factor for the emergence of psychiatric distress in the months following their retirement from sport. Identity-focused screening or intervention during athletes' sport careers could potentially mitigate some of the psychological difficulties associated with sport retirement.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0020-7640",
doi="10.1177/0020764017724184",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0020764017724184"
}