| Popis: |
Young adult athletes are often required to relocate as part of their career progression. The transition between their 'old' and 'new' lives can have a positive or negative effect on their future career. The purpose of this study was to identify the processes and characteristics of thriv ing in periods of geographical d islocation; particularly the move away fro m the 'familiar' to the 'unfamiliar'. A partially mixed, sequential design was employed, in itially to identify the indiv idualities of a group of 24 elite athletes. Despite their ho mogeneity on a range of instruments, the outcome variations were not adequately explained. Subsequently, the particular characteristics and processes that contribute to thriving were examined through a sequence of semi-structured interviews, and analysis. The responses that led to positive outcomes (thriving), in co mparison to less positive (surviving), or even negative (languishing) outcomes are identified and discussed. The findings inform the need for a mo re nuanced and detailed cyclic, rather than linear, approach to the t ransition and any associated intervention strategies. Further research is needed to examine this new approach to managing transitions with different groups of participants and in other dislocating and transitional contexts. |
