Title: “An examination of factors that undermine and support Olympic-level athlete well-being: A multi-perspective approach”
Thesis Supervisor: Professor Mark Beauchamp
Committee Members: Professor Andrea Bundon, Professor Brian Wilson
Chair: Professor David Kuhl
External Examiner: Professor Chris Wagstaff
University Examiners: Professor Moss Norman, Professor Rob VanWynsberghe
Abstract: The overall goal of the research subsumed within this doctoral dissertation was to ascertain what factors contribute to and/or undermine the well-being of Olympic-level athletes. Accordingly, this dissertation consists of two qualitative studies and a knowledge mobilization project which are presented in five chapters. The introduction (Chapter 1) provides a general overview of how well-being has been conceptualized and the psychosocial factors that are posited as having an influence on well-being, particularly in the context of Olympic-level sport. Chapter 2 consists of Study 1, an examination of factors that recently retired Canadian Olympic athletes perceived as supporting and/or thwarting their well-being over the course of their careers in elite sport. The findings from Study 1 highlight the complexity of factors that influence athlete well-being, and the problematic imbalance of power between athletes and the authority figures within their sport environment (including their coaches and performance directors). Building on Study 1 and adopting a critical interpretivist paradigm, Study 2 (Chapter 3) includes an exploration of Canadian national team coaches’ and National Sport Federation performance directors’ perspectives regarding factors that they felt influence athlete well-being (both positively and negatively), and their perceived role in contributing to the well-being of their Olympic-level athletes. Chapter 4 consists of a knowledge mobilization initiative wherein the key findings and recommendations from studies 1 and 2 are shared with leaders in the Canadian elite sport environment. Further, the knowledge mobilization initiative was designed to ignite discussion on how these findings and recommendations may inform future National Sport Federation programs and policy intended to enhance athletes’ experiences of well-being in elite sport. In Chapter 5, a concluding discussion is provided that entails a synthesis of findings across the research included in this dissertation, as well as three interrelated propositions for the leaders of National Sport Federations in Canada who are attentive to opportunities to improve the well-being of their athletes. Chapter 5 also addresses the limitations of the research presented in this dissertation, as well as recommendations for future research related to Olympic-level athlete well-being.