Journal article 308 views
What is an athlete's psychological well-being? Constructing concepts with Olympic and Paralympic athletes
,
Andrea Bundon ,
Ross Wadey,
Guy Faulkner,
Peter. R. E. Crocker
Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, Volume: 17, Issue: 4, Pages: 277 - 295
Swansea University Author:
Lisa Trainor
Full text not available from this repository: check for access using links below.
DOI (Published version): 10.1080/2159676x.2025.2465423
Abstract
Although psychological well-being (PWB) in athletes is receiving increased scrutiny, there is some confusion about what constitutes PWB in elite sport. Psychological well-being (eudaimonia) is associated with purpose, growth, and fulfilling one’s potentials (Aristotle, 4c BCE, 1985); however, there...
| Published in: | Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health |
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| ISSN: | 2159-676X 2159-6778 |
| Published: |
Informa UK Limited
2025
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69358 |
| Abstract: |
Although psychological well-being (PWB) in athletes is receiving increased scrutiny, there is some confusion about what constitutes PWB in elite sport. Psychological well-being (eudaimonia) is associated with purpose, growth, and fulfilling one’s potentials (Aristotle, 4c BCE, 1985); however, there are limitations in the conceptual clarity of PWB, and in the context of elite sport global frameworks of PWB have been used to study context-specific (athlete) PWB. Important research questions remain as there is little understanding of what constitutes athlete PWB. The objective of this study was to explore contextually relevant components of athlete PWB and to gain insight on the make-up of athlete PWB. Semi-structured interviews and photograph elicitation were employed at two time points with 26 athletes (7 Paralympic; 19 Olympic) from four countries (Canada; Great Britain; Australia; New Zealand), and the data were analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2019). Eight components of sport-specific PWB were constructed to represent athletes’ understandings of PWB in elite sport. The eight components included sport-confidence and self-worth; personal balance; aligned purpose; fulfillment; performance; personal agency; psychologically safe relationships; and psychological adaptability. Developed through an interpretive theoretical process, these components maintain the core aspects of eudaimonia but extend to highlight the contextually relevant components of sport-specific PWB. This provides a more meaningful and applicable representation of athletes’ experiences of PWB. |
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| Keywords: |
eudaimonic well-being; psychological well-being; athlete well-being; wellbeing; elite athletes |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
This work was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [Doctoral Fellowship]. |
| Issue: |
4 |
| Start Page: |
277 |
| End Page: |
295 |