A conceptual model of the athlete retirement decision-making process

Citation

Park S, Lavallee D & Tod D (2013) A conceptual model of the athlete retirement decision-making process. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 44 (5), pp. 409-428. http://www.ijsp-online.com/abstract/view/44/409; https://doi.org/10.7352/IJSP2013.44.409

Abstract
The purpose of this article is to provide new ways of understanding athletes’ retirement decision-making process, and its influences on the quality of career transition. Existing literature from both within sport career transition study area and outside the sport domain informing the development of a conceptual model which focuses on explaining the final stages of athletes’ sporting careers and retirement decision-making process. The model helps predict changes in athletes’ behaviours and psychological reactions through the process by providing explanation of: (a) what steps athletes go through during the final stages of their sporting careers; (b) potential influential factors for athletes’ retirement decision; (c) how athletes change their psychological reactions and behaviours towards their retirement; and (d) potential intervention strategies to assist athletes’ career transition out of sport process.

Keywords
Athletes’ retirement; Decision-making; Stages of change; Transition

Journal
International Journal of Sport Psychology: Volume 44, Issue 5