The objectives of this study concerning Swedish players’ transition from junior to senior football were to examine: (1) transition, perceived health, and athletic identity variables, as well as the relationship between them; (2) how transition, perceived health, and athletic identity variables contribute to: (a) healthy sport participation; (b) unhealthy sport participation; (c) quality of adjustment on the senior level of football; (d) life satisfaction. The theoretical frameworks included: the developmental model on transitions faced by athletes; the career transition model; the perceived health and sport/exercise participation model; the circle of health model. The participants (n = 126) were Swedish adolescent football players at local, national or international competitive levels. Three instruments were used in regard of the quantitative approach: the Transition Monitoring Survey; the Perceived Health and Sport Participation Profile; the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale. The transition variables were examined and several relationships were discovered between transition and perceived health variables, and athletic identity. Four multiple regression analyses showed that satisfaction with different spheres of life and coping strategies are significant positive predictors of healthy sport participation. Athletic identity, personal resources, and environmental pressure are significant positive predictors of unhealthy sport participation. In addition, environmental support was revealed to be a significant negative predictor of unhealthy sport participation. Importance of different aspects of sport and satisfaction with sport participation are significant positive predictors of the quality of adjustment on the senior level of sports, whereas importance of different spheres of life and athletic identity are significant negative predictors. Importance of different spheres of life and healthy sport participation are significant positive predictors of life satisfaction. The results are discussed in relation to theoretical frameworks and previous research. / Syftena med föreliggande studie angående svenska spelares övergång från junior till seniorfotboll var att undersöka: (1) övergångs-, upplevd hälsa- och idrottsidentitetsvariabler, såväl som förhållandet mellan dem; (2) hur övergångs-, upplevd hälsa- och idrottsidentitetsvariabler bidrar till: (a) ett hälsosamt idrottsdeltagande; (b) ett ohälsosamt idrottsdeltagande; (c) idrottarnas anpassning till seniornivån i fotboll; (d) livstillfredsställelse. De teoretiska referensramarna inkluderade: the developmental model on transitions faced by athletes; the career transition model; the perceived health and sport/exercise participation model; the circle of health model. Deltagarna (n = 126) bestod av svenska ungdomsfotbollsspelare på lokal, nationell och internationell tävlingsnivå. Tre mätinstrument användes med tanke på den kvantitativa utgångspunkten: Enkäten Karriärövergången från Junior till Senioridrott; Upplevd Hälsa & Idrottsdeltagande Profil; Athletic Identity Measurement Scale. Övergångsvariablerna undersöktes och flera samband upptäcktes mellan övergångs- och upplevd hälsavariabler och idrottsidentitet. Fyra multipla regressionsanalyser visade att tillfredsställelse med olika delar av livet och copingstrategier är positivt signifikanta faktorer som bidrar till ett hälsosamt idrottsdeltagande. Idrottsidentitet, personlighetsfaktorer och tidigare erfarenheter, samt press från omgivningen är positivt signifikanta faktorer som bidrar till ett ohälsosamt idrottsdeltagande. Dessutom så upptäcktes support från omgivningen att vara en negativt signifikant faktor som bidrar till ett ohälsosamt idrottsdeltagande. Hur viktiga olika delar av idrotten är och tillfredsställelsen med idrottsdeltagandet är positivt signifikanta faktorer som bidrar till idrottarens anpassning till seniornivån, då däremot hur viktiga olika delar av livet är och idrottsidentiteten är negativt signifikanta faktorer. Hur viktiga olika delar av livet är och ett hälsosamt idrottsdeltagande är positivt signifikanta faktorer som bidrar till livstillfredsställelse. Resultaten diskuteras i förhållande till de teoretiska referensramarna och tidigare forskning.

This thesis aimed to extend knowledge of athletes’ career transitions through examining athletes’ retirement decision-making process and influence of cultural diversity and organisational culture on the process of career transition. The purpose of Study 1 was to identify the current status of knowledge in the study area through providing a systematic review of the athlete career transition studies. The findings provided up to date knowledge in the study area and suggested potential future research directions. Study 2 aimed to understand Korean tennis players’ career transition out of sport experiences via longitudinal qualitative research. The results indicated that athletes perceived making the retirement decision was difficult process for them and revealed that participants’ experiences were influenced by cultural aspects and sport contexts of Korea. Study 3 focused on exploring the athletes’ retirement decision-making process among Korean tennis players. Results showed that athletes’ leaving from sport decision-making is a complex and multidimensional process, and the transtheoretical model was helpful in explaining athletes’ retirement from sport decision-making. The objective of Study 4 was to explore the processes involved in the development of an athletes’ career transition programme. Results revealed that the organisation might have influence on athletes’ retirement decision and the quality of career transition. Overall, the findings from the current thesis provide advanced useful knowledge on the athlete career transition process, and such knowledge may assist attempts to enhance athletes’ well-being and welfare for during and post-sport life.

Les perturbations de l'identité suite à une commotion cérébrale liée au sport (CCS) ont été explorées du point de vue de l'identité athlétique. Cependant, ces études négligent d'autres constructions identitaires importantes, comme l'identité personnelle (p.ex. la personnalité, les émotions) et sociale (p. ex. la famille) ainsi que le concept de soi, c'est-à-dire l'identité collective, personnelle et sociale. En utilisant l'approche de l'identité sociale pour conceptualiser le concept d'identité, cette étude qualitative multiméthodes a exploré l'impact d'une CCS sur les constructions identitaires de sept athlètes élites (n = 6 femmes, M = 25,1 ans). Deux entretiens semi-structurés (durée moyenne de 83,7 minutes et 76,9 minutes respectivement) et l'outil nommé Social Identity Mapping Tool ont été utilisés pour collecter les données. Suite à une analyse thématique réflexive, trois thèmes ont été développés. Thème A : L’impact de la CCS durant le rétablissement sur les constructions identitaires des participants menace le concept de soi. Le thème B : L’identité post-commotion décrit comment les constructions identitaires des participants ont changé après le rétablissement de la CCS. Le thème C : La gestion de l’identité via l’identité sociale explique comment les dynamiques du réseau social des participants impactent leurs constructions identitaires. Les résultats démontrent que les athlètes élites ayant subi une CCS peuvent éprouver une perturbation allant au-delà de l’identité athlétique. Les futures recherches devraient explorer les interventions nécessaires afin de gérer adéquatement cette perturbation de l’identité. / Researchers have explored the impact of a sport-related concussion (SRC) on athletes’ identity almost exclusively through the lens of athletic identity. However, this approach neglects other important identity constructs, such as personal (e.g., personality, emotions), and social identity (e.g., family, student), and the self-concept (i.e., collectively, personal, and social identity). Using the Social Identity Approach, this qualitative, multi-method study explored the impact of SRC on the identity constructs of seven (n = 6 female, M = 25.1 years) elite soccer, swimming, ice hockey, and curling athletes. We collected data using two semi-structured interviews (Mtime = 83.7 and 76.9 minutes, respectively). The second interview included the Social Identity Mapping Tool, a comprehensive visual display of individuals’ social identity and social network. We used a reflexive thematic analysis and organized the data into three themes. SRC Experience Threatening the Self-Concept (Theme A) explored disruption to participants’ identity constructs during SRC recovery. Post-Concussion Identity (Theme B) described how participants’ identity constructs changed when recovered. Identity Management Through Social Identity (Theme C) explained how the dynamics of participants’ social identity impacted disruptions to identity constructs throughout the SRC experience. Results highlight that elite athletes with SRCs may encounter identity disruption that extends beyond merely their athletic identity. Although this study expands the knowledge around identity disruption from SRCs, we suggest future research explore potential intervention strategies for managing identity disruption from SRCs.