The aim of this thesis is to produce a substantive grounded theory of junior-to-senior transition and as a result of this work, to provide knowledge and guidance for coaches, sport psychologists and other personnel supporting young aspirant athletes. Underpinned by a social constructionist philosophy, the research programme was designed to capture and interpret the social world of the participants and to interpret the perceptions derived from their own lived experience of the transition. The thesis consists of three studies which, in a concatenated programme of research, are predicated one upon another. In order that understanding in social research can be advanced, the development of theory requires several rounds of fieldwork, analysis and publication (Stebbins, 1992,2006). Thus the building of theory took place over the initial two studies, the first of which involved the in-depth interviewing of nine participants from individual sports (M age = 24.5 years, S. D. = 4.3 years). As a consequence of this exercise, rich data were collected, depicting the participants' experiences of the juniorsenior transition. Grounded in these data, a preliminary model of junior-to-senior transition was constructed using Strauss and Corbin's (1998) guidelines for grounded theory analysis. More specifically, the resultant model revealed a cyclical process: of learning, identity development and progress at transition. Inception of the process is characterised by immersion in the post-transition environment during the pre-transition phase, in which significant observational learning occurs via the use of more senior role models. This process leads to the identification of discrepancies between the actual (or junior) and ideal (or senior) self. This promotes a period of adjustment in which the behaviours relevant to senior status are incorporated within the self, bringing about a sense of readiness, or ability to cope with the transition. In essence, the athletes had sought to structure their pre-transition environment to represent that which they would encounter post-transition, thereby generating stability for their self-identity. The modification of identity, through the adjustment of behaviours and roles, predicted a competitive breakthrough, at which point the athletes began to think about the subsequent step at senior level, and hence the cycle of immersion, learning and adjustment continued. (Continues...).

This study was a continuation of previous research by Stambulova et al., (manuscript submitted; Lundell-Olsson & Pehrson, 2014), with the purpose to validate and update the empirical model ”Phases in the Junior-to-Senior Transition in Swedish Ice Hockey Players”. The objectives of the study were to (1) to collect opinions and reflections of expert senior players and coaches about the empirical model as a whole and about content of each JST phase and (2) to update the empirical model based on the participants’ feedback. Fifteen Swedish professional ice hockey players and coaches were recruited for focus groups and interviews and data were collected regarding their opinions of the empirical model. The results supported (a) the sequence of phases, (b) the titles and duration of the model, and (c) the psychological content in terms of perceived demands, resources, barriers, coping strategies, and outcomes, was updated. Five themes’ names were changed and sixteen new themes were added. Based on the empirical models confirmation and suggested updates, the validated model ”Phases in the Junior-to-Senior Transition in Swedish Ice Hockey Players” was created. The results of the study are discussed in relation to theoretical frameworks, previous research, methodology, future research, and applications. / Denna studie var en fortsättning på tidigare studie av Stambulova et al., (manuskript inskickat; Lundell-Olsson & Pehrson, 2014) med syfte att validera och uppdatera den empiriska modellen ”Faser i övergången från junior till senior hos Svenska ishockeyspelare”. Målet med studien var (1) att samla in åsikter och reflektioner från erfarna seniorspelare och tränare kring den empiriska modellen som helhet och varje fast i övergången från junior till senior, samt att (2) uppdatera den empiriska modellen grundat på deltagarnas feedback. För att uppnå detta så rekryterades femton professionella svenska ishockeyspelare och tränare som deltog i fokusgrupper och intervjuer och data samlades in kring deras åsikter om den empiriska modellen. Resultaten stödde (a) sekvensen av faser, (b) dess titlar och varaktighet och (c) det psykologiska innehållet i form av krav, barriärer, resurser, copingstrategier och utfall. Fem temans namn ändrades och sexton ny tillkom. Baserat på resultaten ansågs den empiriska modellen validerad och uppdaterade i en validerad modell ”Faser i övergången från junior till senior hos Svenska ishockeyspelare”. Resultaten diskuteras vidare i relation till teoretiska ramverk, tidigare forskning, metodologi, framtida forskning, och tillämpbarhet.