The Role Experimentation of Intercollegiate Student Athletes

Abstract

This study examined the role experimentation of university student athletes using in-depth interviews. The results revealed participants’ role experimentation was limited to three spheres: athletic, academic, and social. Participants’ exploration of and commitment to roles revealed a two-stage model of identity formation. The first stage, Over-Identification with the Athlete Role, revealed a singular focus on athletics that persisted throughout much of the participants’ university careers. The second stage, Deferred Role Experimentation, reflected an increased investment in academic and social roles in the participants’ upper years. Results were consistent with previous findings of an athletic identity among intercollegiate student-athletes (Brewer, Van Raalte, & Linder, 1993), but supported Perna, Zaichkowsky, and Bocknek’s (1996) suggestion that identity foreclosure may have been overgeneralized.

Changes in Athletic Identity and Life Satisfaction of Elite Athletes as a Function of Retirement Status

“…Brewer et al (1993) found a negative relationship between athletic identity and age in a sample of collegiate student-athletes. Miller and Kerr (2003) also observed that the importance of the athlete role decreased over time as studentathletes matured. Houle, Brewer, and Kluck (2010) investigated the development of athletic identity over three age groups (10 years, 15 years, and adulthood) and found that it increased until the age of 15 and then stayed at that level into young adulthood.…”

The Investigation of Personal and Social Responsibility Levels in Athlete and Non-Athlete Male and Female Adolescents

“…Also, Aries (2004) in his research indicated Students spending 10 or more hours per week in athletic activities had lower entering academic credentials and academic self-assessments than non-athletes, but the academic performance of athletes was not below what would be expected based on their entering profiles. Also, in some researches problems such as violence on and off the court (Fields et al, 2007) and lack of social life and experience (Miller, Kerr, 2003) were found. In regard to these problem, the emphasis on winning is evidenced as more cheating and violations have been reported when recruiting and additional violations of academic fraud concerning student athletes' eligibility (Holman, 2007).…”

“…More negative consequences and psycho-social problems were found to be associated with collegiate athletic participation. Those problems included violence on and off the court (Fields et al, 2007) and lack of social life and experience (Miller, Kerr, 2003).…”

The Academic Achievement of Elite Athletes at an Australian University: Debunking the Dumb Jock Syndrome

“…For over three decades, the literature surrounding elite athletes' academic achievement has overwhelmingly reported that they are low attainers relative to their peers (Hildenbrand, 2005;Intrator & Seigal, 2008;Lewis, 1997;Miller & Kerr, 2002;Mixon, 1995;Pascarella & Smart 1991;Rasmussen, 2009;Ryan, 1989;Shulman & Bowen, 2001;Stegman, 2000). While it is beyond the scope of this paper to consider the extensive literature in this field in detail, it is important to outline some of the key and clear themes which emerge from the research.…”