Title: “Elite Athletes’ (De)construction of Athlete Psychological Well-Being”
Thesis Supervisors: Dr. Andrea Bundon and Dr. Peter Crocker
Committee Members: Dr. Guy Faulkner, Dr. Ross Wadey (Saint Mary’s University, Twickenham, London)
Chair: Dr. Mark Beauchamp
Abstract: Participation in the Olympics and Paralympics Games is one of the greatest sporting achievements (Wylleman et al., 2012); however, the road to the Games can pose many psychological challenges for athletes (e.g., injury, deselection, finances, illness) and unexpected major setbacks can result in psychological distress and reduced psychological well-being (PWB) (Brewer, 2007; Mosewich et al., 2014). It is difficult for athletes to maintain and enhance their PWB in the face of numerous challenges (Trainor et al., 2020) and in highly demanding and performance-oriented contexts (Lunqvist & Sandin, 2014). Although PWB in athletes is receiving increase scrutiny there is some confusion about what constitutes PWB. Psychological well-being may be defined as living well and actualizing one’s potential (Deci & Ryan, 2008); however, in the context of sport, PWB suffers from vague and variable definitions (Lundqvist, 2011). Important research questions remain as there is no conclusive evidence determining the configuration of (sport-specific) athlete PWB (Lundqvist & Sandin, 2014). Currently, leading definitions of PWB only capture one’s ‘global PWB’ and do not take context into account (e.g., sport). Context is important as one’s judgement of their PWB is related to personally significant contextual domains (Diener et al., 2003). Speaking to elite Olympic and Paralympic athletes offers the opportunity to explore first-hand accounts to understand perceptions of athlete PWB. Three overarching research questions will guide this qualitative interview-based study: (1) what are elite athletes’ perceptions of the configuration of athlete PWB? (2) how do elite athletes perceive optimal and low athlete PWB (e.g., disruption/growth) while coping with psychosocial challenges of sport? (3) how can elite athletes’ PWB be better supported by stakeholders at the national and international level?